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Security agencies urged to stay alert to challenges ahead -
President Kufuor
Accra, Jan. 25, GNA – President
John, sizing the challenging ahead of the nation, has asked
the security agencies of the nation to stay alert to ensure
that the gains achieved in the political as well as the
socio-economic economic areas of the country's development
are not set aback.
He said as “Election 2008” political campaign shifted gear,
they should brace themselves up to play their role
professionally to protect not only the integrity of the
polls but also lives and property.
“The nation has every confidence that as in the past, you
will rise to the occasion”, he said when he addressed the
VIP Protection Unit (VIPPU) end-of-year WASSA celebration at
the Castle Gardens.
WASSA, which has evolved to become an important event on the
annual calendar of the security agencies in Ghana,
traditionally, was a regimental celebration organized within
units and regiments with the view to fostering esprit de
corps, unity and boosting morale.
President Kufuor gave an upbeat assessment of the giant
strides the nation was making in terms of good governance,
the rule of law, economic management and social services
delivery and said “there are obvious signs that success is
clearly in the horizon.”
“The future is bright for everybody and this is why
temporary difficulties and vile propaganda should not be
allowed to sway the nation from its chosen path of
democratic governance to prosperity.”
He asked the entire population to remain focused on the
vision of “Ghana Incorporated” and on lifting the nation
into middle income economy within a decade so as to reap and
share in the benefits.
President Kufuor praised the security services for the
professionalism with which they discharged their duties that
enabled Ghana to excel in various high profile national and
international engagements last year.
He cited among them the Ghana at 50 celebrations, the 9th
Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) and the African
Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Meeting.
This year, he said, would present equal challenges with the
on-going Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta already making demands on
the security services.
President Kufuor told the security personnel that he was
“delightfully amazed and re-assured by the deep passion for
Ghana”, which has gripped the nation since the Golden
Jubilee and intensified since the beginning of the
prestigious Confederation of African Nations (CAN) Cup
Tournament, Ghana 2008.
He said by coming out in teeming numbers, proudly adorned in
national colours to cheer on the national soccer team, the
Black Stars, to lift the coveted trophy, Ghanaians were
showing that the nation had recaptured the high sense of
patriotism and self-confidence that characterized the
society at the point of political independence in 1957.
Colonel Emmanuel Akohene Mensah, the Presidential Security
Coordinator, told officers and men of the unit to see their
call to serve the Presidency as an honour and privilege and
therefore should put in their maximum best to protect and
defend the country’s infant democracy at the peril of their
lives.
“We must realize that our primary task of providing close
security to the President is not only the highest call in
the land but also the pivot on which, the nation’s security
revolves.”
“Our resolve must be positive, our posture professional,
dedication unblemished, discipline unquestionable and
loyalty unflinching”, he said.
GNA
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