Some of the soldiers during the march. INSET:Hon. Eric Opoku, Ashanti Regional Minister addressing the security agents
ASHANTI REGIONAL Minister Eric Opoku has tasked the security agencies in the country to be vigilant always, so that they would not be taken unawares by any security threat.
He insisted that the constant alertness of the security agents would enable them to deal firmly and effectively with any person or group of persons who would try to plunge the country into chaos.
?I wish to urge the officers and men in the security agencies to continue to remain alert to avoid being taken unawares by some elements in our society to derail the efforts made by the country to improve the living conditions of the people.?
Mr. Opoku was addressing a parade of security agents including the Military, Police, Immigration, Customs and Fire services held at the Ridge Park in Kumasi on Wednesday morning.
The nicely dressed security agents, had earlier in the day, marched through the principal streets of Kumasi. The route march was geared to keep the security agents in shape.
It was aimed at putting the officers and men in the right frame of mind to focus on their duties and also sharpen their combat readiness to stand up to eventualities that demand their intervention to maintain law and order.
The Ashanti regional minister assured that the country was in eagle hands, therefore nobody could plunge the country into chaos as the Supreme Court is about to give its verdict on the 2012 election petition.
Ghana?s peace and huge economic gains over the years which had made the country the envy of other countries, he stated, could not be sacrificed because of political interests, stressing that Ghana was in capable hands so the citizenry should not panic.
?The security forces are firmly on the ground to protect everybody,? the minister assured the populace, calling on the people to be law abiding and corporate with the security agents to sustain the peace of the country.
He also admonished the citizenry to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court which is the highest court of the land, regarding the election petition ?and leave all consequential matters to our leaderships to handle.?
Hon. Opoku expressed gross concern over the sophisticated weapons which some hoodlums had been using to rob people of their valuables recently, noting that the trend called for the security agents to be proactive in their fight against crime.
Mr. Opoku urged the people not to be frightened upon seeing the security agents in their full regalia marching through the streets of the city, stressing the people should rather be assured that security was in capable hands.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Augustine Gyenning, Colonel Joseph Adu Boampong, general officer commanding the Northern Command and Bimpong Marfo, the regional Security Liaison officer were all present.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
