Joint security services hold end-of-year route march in Accra
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, embarked on a joint route march in Accra yesterday as part of activities to mark the end of the year.
The exercise, which began at 7 a.m., started from the El-Wak Sports Stadium through Kawukudi and Nima, continued around the Christ the King Catholic Church area and ended at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.
It aimed to reassure the public of the strong commitment of the GAF and other security services to maintaining peace and security throughout the festive season.
Symbol of unity
Addressing participants at the end of the march, the Minister of Finance and acting Minister of Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, described the exercise as more than a physical activity, stressing that it was a powerful symbol of unity among the country’s security services.
“This route march is far more than a physical activity. It is a powerful symbol of unity and the shared purpose that binds our security services together,” he said.
Dr Forson noted that in today’s complex security environment, no single service could operate in isolation, and added that the country’s safety and stability depended on cooperation, mutual trust and information sharing among all security agencies.
“The spirit of collaboration and comradeship demonstrated today is urgently needed.
The presence of the heads of the various services sends a strong message that unity of command and effort remains the cornerstone of our collective security architecture,” he said.
He commended officers and men for their discipline, endurance and professionalism, and assured them of the government’s commitment to improving their welfare, operational capacity and working conditions.
Govt’s assurance
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, expressed appreciation to the security services for their sacrifices in keeping the country safe, often at great personal cost.
“We know you deny yourselves sleep and comfort, and you risk your lives every day so that our citizens and our country can be safe,” he said.
He acknowledged that the year was challenging, especially with the loss of officers in the line of duty, but said overall, the country had remained stable.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak assured the security services that the government was aware of their challenges, including housing, equipment, morale and allowances.
“Our country is going through a lot, and we are under an IMF programme, but we can assure you that as the economy gets back on track, you will feel it, including in the equipment you use to defend us,” he said.
He added that the government would, in the coming year, focus on resourcing the Armed Forces, the Police, the Fire Service, the Prisons Service, the Immigration Service, and other security agencies.
Call for collaboration
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Maj. Gen. William Agyapong, commended participants for their resilience and teamwork, noting that the march demonstrated the strength that comes from collaboration.
“In the modern day, the threats we face are different.
They are asymmetric, and that is why every individual security service is important in the fight against these common threats,” he said.
He stressed that no single security service could succeed alone, urging continued cooperation to achieve synergy in safeguarding the nation.
Maj. Gen. Agyapong thanked officers and men for their dedication throughout the year and expressed gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief and President of the Republic for the trust reposed in the security leadership.
He also called on the public to continue supporting the security agencies with timely and credible information to enhance national security.
