2006年VOA标准英语-Ghana's Army Investigating Allegation of S

By Efam Dovi
Accra
09 May 2006

Ghana's army says it is ordering an investigation¹ into allegations that its soldiers serving with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia are involved in a sex-for-aid scandal.

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The allegations were in a report by the group Save the Children. It said Ghanaian soldiers in the peacekeeping mission are among those who demand sex from girls, some as young as eight, in return for aid.

The report said some of the girls have babies fathered by Ghanaian soldiers.

 
Colonel Emmanuel Nibo  
  
A military spokesman, Colonel Emmanuel Nibo, told the VOA the report came as a surprise to Ghana's military.

He said the high command has ordered immediate² investigations³ into the allegations.

"Well the Ghana Armed Forces is rather [surprised] about the report because our troops are quite aware of this particular sexual exploitation and abuse because it is one subject they are [briefed] on before they leave the shores of Ghana for the operations," said Colonel Nibo. "So when the news came most of us were [surprised], so the military high command has directed the contingent⁴ commander in Liberia to investigate the allegation as well as the report and submit the report to Accra for them to study and know exactly what is going on."

Colonel Nibo said the army is taking the allegations seriously and would like to establish whether the report is accurate.

"In the first place we need to find out whether the report is right and also find out whether any of the troops, Ghanaian troops, because they were very specific, they said Ghanaian troops, whether any Ghanaian troop [were] involved," he said.

There are about 700 Ghanaian soldiers serving with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia, and the military command is also worried about their health in the light of the sex allegations.

"We also know that HIV/AIDS is also an issue if you get yourself involved in sex. So in our particular situation if … before you go on a mission and you go for medical examination and you are found positive that is your end, you will never be on any peace mission again so the troops are all aware but in all situations some people are adventurous," added Colonel Nibo.

Colonel Nibo also said its personnel are very much aware of the military regulations and should any of them be implicated⁵ they will face the law.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

4 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

5 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》