Let’s support security services …Pres rallies citizenry
President John Dramani Mahama has underscored that security is a shared responsibility and every citizen must play a complementary role to keep the country safe.
He said as citizens, it was important not to perceive the security services as the exclusive institutions responsible for the safety and security of the country, bearing in mind the nature of contemporary threat that confronts the state.
To this end, he urged that citizens, in discharging this complementary duty of helping to safeguard the country’s security, did not raise false alarms like the shepherd boy in Aesop’s famous fable who cried wolf when there was none.
“If we behave like that boy, either for partisan or parochial interests, we distract the attention of our security services from focusing on their critical job of keeping us safe.
“Let us support our security services and the Ghana Armed Forces with information that is useful and intelligence that is helpful to advance their work rather than retrogress it,” President Mahama rallied.
He made this call in Accra on Friday at the graduation ceremony of the Regular Course 63 into the Ghana Armed Forces.
Dressed in a full white Naval regalia, President Mahama who is the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces explained that his decision to “rock” the navy military uniform was a “symbol of patriotism and solidarity” with the country’s security agencies.
President Mahama reiterated that his government would take all allegations of crime seriously and trigger state security service machinery to go after criminals no matter who they are.
“Let me state emphatically also that we do not have the resources and time to engage in any game of smoke and mirrors,” President Mahama stated.
The security, the President said, were already engaged in a myriad of security operations to maintain peace and security in the country; Bawku being the most pressing and must be allowed to focus.
He said the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mediation talks to find lasting solution to the Bawku crisis has been triggered with the Asantehene set to reconvene a meeting between the factions this week.
President Mahama condemned the renewed clashes in the Upper East town on Thursday which left one person dead and property destroyed.
“We need the cooperation of all to restore peace in Bawku and its environs. I entreat all sides to embrace peace as we dialogue to resolve this age-old dispute,” President Mahama appealed.
He also announced a raft of interventions to improve the welfare and enhance the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces including housing, logistical support and capacity building of personnel.
In all, 163 graduands, comprising 138 males and 25 females were commissioned into the Forces.
They were made of 110 into the Army, 28 into the Navy and 25 into the Air Force.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
