Sunyani (B/A) Sept. 3, GNA - Mr. Martin Amidu, Minister of the Interior on Thursday charged recruitment into the country's security services must not be based on nay form of favouritism and partisan considerations.

He said only those who qualified should be recruited "so that the security organisations would not be packed with robbers and persons of dubious character but people of passion and commitment".

Mr. Amidu was addressing members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in Sunyani at the start of his three-day working visit to the region.

He explained that because of the co-coordinating role of the Ministry of Interior, it would only be proper to formulate policies based on discussions and recommendations of REGSECs which monitor and implement matters and policies of national security on the ground.

The Interior Minister was therefore in the region to acquaint himself of the regional security situation and to commend the REGSEC as well as the Regional Peace Advisory Council (RPAC) for a "good job" done.

Mr. Amidu emphasized that security of the nation was a matter of primary concern to the Government hence, since the last 20 months, the Government had been providing resources to motivate and empower the security services to motivate them and to inject dynamism into their operations, he added.

In reaction to concern about incidents of armed robbery in the region the Minister advised that the Fulani herdsmen alone do not fit the profile since anyone from anywhere could be a perpetuator.

Mr. Amidu stressed that crime combat in the country should be looked at holistically and announced that the ministry and national security were collaborating to put up a holistic plan to facilitate more robust and effective way of crime prevention.

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Regional Minister, mentioned some security challenges in the region particularly, chieftaincy disputes, armed robbery, illegal chainsaw operations and bush fires during the dry season.

He commended the police for fighting crime especially armed robbery despite inadequate resources like "operational vehicles" to enable them to respond rapidly to distress calls.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo added that all the security agencies including fire, prisons and immigration services were performing to expectation but had common problems of residential and office accommodation

The regional minister however disclosed that the regional fire service had commenced an accommodation project at a location in the Sunyani Municipality and appealed to the Interior Minister for the ministry to offer financial support for early completion.

Mr. Martin Amidu later held a meeting with the RPAC and also addressed separate durbars of the officers and men of the regional police command, the immigration, prisons and fire services as well as a visit to the regional headquarters of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

He was accompanied by Alhaji Salifu Osman, acting chief director of the ministry, Professor Claver Nyathi, Chief Governance Adviser, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, Mr. Francis Azuimah, Peace and Governance Programme Officer, UNDP also in Ghana, Mr. Mumuni Abdulai Bawumia, Director, Peace Desk at the MoI and Mr. Kudjo Dabri, Public Affairs Director of the Ministry.