Deal with flashpoints to prevent conflicts — Vice-President

The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has tasked the security forces to monitor flashpoints in the country and deal with them before they degenerate into intractable conflicts.

He said beside the huge economic implications, communal violence had the potential to throw the country into turmoil.

“I must point out that communal violence has social, economic, and  political costs. It is, therefore, imperative that we take immediate steps to identify these spots and deal with them immediately,” he said.

At a meeting with the Armed Forces Council in Accra yesterday, the Vice-President said “we have a major responsibility to identify explosive areas and prevent the cost of their implications.”

He added that when the council was inaugurated on March 28, this year, President John Mahama pledged to support the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly by providing its logistical needs for them to operate effectively and efficiently.

Mr Amissah-Arthur said what the President expected from the security services was their loyalty and preparedness to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the country.

He lauded the collaboration among the security services, which, he said, had contributed significantly towards reducing crime.

The Vice-President also used the opportunity to commend the security services for their role in the peaceful conduct of the December 2012 elections.

“Ghanaians are grateful to you for their internal security. You are up to the task,” he said.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Woyongo, said since he assumed office a month ago, he had interacted with the top hierarchy, as well as the rank and file of the military, and promised to put in place measures to solve challenges confronting the service.

Story: Timothy Gobah