Security personnel asked to ensure peace for economic development

Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay, the Chief of Defense Staff has appealed to personnel of the security agencies in the country to work as a team to ensure peace for rapid economic development.

He said confusion that sometimes ensued among personnel of security agencies in the course of their work did not augur well for the country.

Lt-Gen. Blay was addressing personnel of security agencies after an inter-security agencies football gala, to mark the Sixth Garrison Day at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale on Thursday.

The Ghana Armed Force (GAF), Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Prisons Service participated in the competition.

The joint team of the Police Service and the BNI beat the Armed Forces 8-7 on penalties to lift the football trophy after a 1-1 drawn game.

The gala formed part of an exercise code-named “Ex-Bridget,” organized by the GAF to foster unity and information flow among the security agencies.

He asked personnel of the security agencies in the Northern Region to sustain the good relationship existing between them.

Air Commodore Philip Ayisa, Six Garrison Commander, called on security personnel to be extra-vigilant and loyal to the state in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Godwin Tawiah Okley, a Deputy Northern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, who spoke on the “Roles and Responsibilities of the Security Services in the December 2012 Elections,” called on the security agencies to act swiftly to avert trouble at polling stations.

He advised them not to take instructions from civilians on how they should discharge their duties.

Mr. MacMathew Chancellor, Officer in-charge of Research at the Northern Regional Office of the National Commission on Civic Education, asked security agencies to effectively play their constitutional roles, to ensure free and fair elections in December.**