Liberia: Ghanaian government offers seven scholarships to AFL
Posted by African Press International on February 14, 2011
< By Terence Sesay
Monrovia (Liberia)-Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Friday disclosed that the Ghanaian government has offered seven scholarships to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to help train its personnel.
She also recognized the efforts of African countries like Nigeria, Benin and Rwanda for the assistance they have rendered the Liberian military since she assumed leadership of the country.
Addressing the 54th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of Liberia, President Johnson Sirleaf said this level of assistance to the AFL “coupled with the mentorship provided by active United States military personnel, will enable the AFL to be proficient and positively contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.”
She said as the country enters its transition period with the United Nations Mission in Liberia , the “goal of the government is to strengthen the capability of the AFL, moving into a manageable force with the resource constraints, to effectively carry its mission.”
She spoke of the need to increase the size of the engineering company to battalion level and the size of the reactivated coast guard to half a company.
The Liberian leader then expressed the hope that the AFL will be capable to carry out various missions by 2014 at which time a Liberian could be appointed Chief of staff of the national army. The current Chief of Staff of the AFL is a Nigerian who was appointed about four years ago upon the reactivation of the AFL.
The AFL was dissolved following the conflict because it took sides during the conflict and needed to be restructured.
Following ceremonies marking the anniversary celebration held at the Barclay Training Center Military Barracks in central Monrovia, President Johnson Sirleaf bestowed honors on the Defense Minister of Nigeria, the former president of the Liberian transitional government Gyude Bryant and the Commander of the U.S Africa Command Lieutenant William Keith and commissioned two boats donated by the U.S government to the Liberian.
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