Security services go on route march

Personnel of the security services yesterday went on route marches and exhibited some of their weaponry in some of the regions to reassure the public of their preparedness to keep and protect the peace.

Led by their commanders and some government officials, the security personnel marched in the towns and danced to the famous Azonto music in particular, to entertain members of the public who thronged the pavements of streets to watch them.

Emmanuel Quaye & Zainabu Issah report from Accra that the security services, led by Chief of the Defence Staff, Real Admiral Mathew Quashie, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Alhassan and the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Bani, joined in the 10-kilometre route march in the national capital.  It started early in the morning from the El-Wak Stadium through the 37 Military Hospital roundabout, the Accra Girls Senior High School junction, Nima Highway, Ako Adjei interchange, Flagstaff House junction and back to the El-Wak Stadium.

Real Admiral Quashie, who addressed the personnel, said the march was a segment of the routine training activities of the security services to enhance their operational readiness, foster inter-service co-operation and maintain good physical fitness.

This training activity has been planned well in advance of any ongoing political or legal developments in the country " he said.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians not to read any meanings into the exercise

From Takoradi, Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu reports that the Regional Minister, Mr. E.K.T. Addo, joined the security services in an 11-kilometre route march.

The march, which lasted four hours, started from Sekondi at about 5 a.m. The personnel marched along the main Sekondi-Takoradi road to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and then to the Takoradi Polytechnic.

At the end of the march, Mr Addo urged the security personnel to always defend the interest of the country.

The contingent in Sunyani chose to display their arsenal of weaponry as they sang, chanted and blew whistles to boost their morale, to the amusement of members of the public who had lined up the streets to watch them, reports Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah.

Some motor riders joined in the frolicking by displaying their skills and tooting their horns incessantly.

Workers, who had either reported for work or were on their way to their respective work places, were caught in the frenzy as they watched the ecstatic officers and men pass by.

Before hitting the streets, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Robert Ayalingo and the Commanding Officer of the Third Infantry Battalion, Major Joseph Kelvin Merdiemah, addressed the security personnel and asked them to comport themselves and act professionally in the discharge of their duties.

In Bolgatanga, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that led by the various service commanders, the security personnel, clad in riot control gear, started the route march at 9 a.m from the forecourt of the regional police headquarters and ended it at the same spot after two hours of marching.

Along the route, some residents in the municipality expressed surprise at the numbers of the personnel and the accoutrement of the services, while others said the presence of the security personnel gave them assurance that there would be peace after the verdict of the Supreme Court had been announced.

Emmanuel Modey reports from Ho that the exercise lasted two hours after which the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, addressed the personnel.

Mr Ganyaglo commended them for the smart turn-out and urged them to hold such operations periodically.

From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that the personnel converged on the Victoria Park after the exercise.

The Central Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Ransford Ninson, who addressed them, said the police with support from the other security agencies were ready to deal with any eventualities after the Supreme Court verdict.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, commended the security agencies for their selfless commitment to duty, noting that their professionalism and dedication to the cause of the nation had never been in doubt.

By Graphic Reporters