General News of Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Source: GNA

Military and police join forces to resolve impasse

Accra, June 9, GNA - A joint delegation from the Military and Police

Command are in Kumasi to solve the impasse between the two security agenc ies that arose out of alleged military brutalities meted out to some police personnel in Kumasi last week.

Lieutenant-General Peter Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff, announced this at a handing-over ceremony in Accra on Wednesday. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Paul Tawiah Quaye was handing-over

the chairmanship of Security Services Sports Council to the in-coming Chairperson, Ms Matilda Baffour-Awuah, Deputy Director General of Prisons

in-charge of Finance and Administration. The ceremony was also to streamline activities of Security Services Sports Association to harmonise its programmes with international and national sporting activities to avoid conflicting schedules. Lt-Gen. Blay said "the IGP and I are very much resolved that this matter would not affect the core professional relationship between our services. In all the regions, where applicable, the military and the poli ce are continuing with relevant joint operations".

"We are together against armed robbers, smugglers and other social vices. All of us as security service chiefs should continually educate ou r men on the need for co-operation, spirit de corps, and exercise of maximu m restraint in the performance of our duties," he said. The IGP said that both the military and police services had resolved to undertake more joint activities to strengthen cordial working relations. "We in the security services High Command have resolved not to allow

petty incidents to derail our combined efforts which have made our nation an island of peace in a sub-region of turbulence," he said. SESSA games are annual sporting activities organised to promote unit y and solidarity in the country's security forces.