By Mercy Darko
The Defence Industries Holding Company, DIHOC of the Ghana Armed Forces, GAF, has signed on twelve new entities to undertake various projects.
These joint venture companies will collaborate with GAF to build a Military Industrial complex to make the security service self-reliant and support the government’s efforts at industrializing the economy.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was speaking at a ceremony at Burma Camp to announce these entities appealed to the business Community to go into more collaborations with the Armed Forces to develop a diversity of production value chains that will benefit both the military and civilians.
The Defence Industries Holding Company Limited, DIHOC which is focused on creating an industrial hub for the Ghana Armed Forces through joint ventures will help the Ghana Armed Forces meet its logistics needs, provide human security, create jobs and contribute to the socio-economic development of the economy.
DIHOC has over the past decade witnessed the growth in the number of joint ventures companies from the initial DIHOC Footwear to about thirteen new companies spanning from electronics, oil and gas, finance and construction and onshore logistics solutions.
Vice President Bawumia said the quest to create an industrial hub for the security services will not only reduce the burden of sourcing logistics outside but leverage on local expertise through joint venture partnerships.
He appealed to the private sector to collaborate with the Armed Forces as the government also moves to industrialize the economy.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama in an address noted that the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited will among other things enable the Ghana Armed Forces to produce some of its logistics such as uniforms, footwear, amoury and bullion vans.
While outlining the numerous benefits of DIHOC, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama also appealed to other stakeholders to come on board to make DIHOC more vibrant.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Kofi Amankwah Manu who is the Board Chairman of DIHOC, indicated that the military high command will not directly interfere in the day to day activities of the companies.
The new companies include DIHOC Black Swan which will help assemble small calibre ammunition, DIHOC JOSPONG, DIHOC McDan, Careworld Global Medical Services which is expected to build a 1500 hospital bed capacity and DIHOC Radik Group with the task of building a beach front and real estate.
DIHOC is also in discussions with potential partners for the establishment of an Industrial Parks, an Iron Rod Manufacturing Plant, a Garment Factory and a Cattle ranch.
