In a decisive move to bolster public confidence and streamline regional safety operations, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto, has called for an end to inter-agency friction, urging security forces to embrace a new era of permanent collaboration.
The Commander’s remarks came during an address to personnel from various security wings following a high-profile “visibility walk” through the streets of Kumasi. The exercise, designed to signal readiness and provide reassurance to residents during the festive season, served as a backdrop for a deeper conversation regarding the professional conduct of the men and women in uniform.
DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto addressed a critical issue that has occasionally marred the reputation of the security services: internal “counter-attacks” and public displays of animosity between different branches of the security forces. He noted that such incidents do not only damage the professional image of the institutions but also compromise the very safety they are sworn to protect.
“Unity should be our bedrock,” the Commander asserted. “Past reports of different security forces attacking each other cast a slur on our image in the eyes of the public and also on our very existence.”
The Commander emphasized that the era of “turf wars” must come to a definitive end, replaced by a unified front that prioritizes the peace and stability of the Ashanti Region.
While the visibility walk was organized to coincide with the Christmas and New Year festivities, DCOP Osei Akoto was quick to clarify that this display of solidarity is not a temporary public relations stunt.
“I’m sure what we have displayed today is not going to be a nine-day wonder,” he stated. “Let’s continue to be united; in unity is our strength. Together we stand, divided we fall.”
He challenged the various commanders and rank-and-file members to sustain this spirit of cooperation into the coming year, ensuring that the synergy seen during the festive period becomes the standard operating procedure for long-term regional security.
Linking the professional call for unity to the spiritual significance of the season, DCOP Osei Akoto appealed to the personnel to use the Christmas period as a time for personal and professional reconciliation.
“As we celebrate Christmas, please, with the birth of Christ, let’s forgive each other and turn a new leaf,” he pleaded. The Commander’s message highlighted that the effectiveness of the security apparatus begins with the internal relationships of its members. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and forgiveness, the agencies can better serve the Ghanaian public.
The visibility walk itself was hailed as a success, with a large turnout of personnel from the:
Ghana Police Service
Ghana Armed Forces
Ghana National Fire Service
Ghana Immigration Service
Ghana Prisons Service and the national security.
The heavy presence of security personnel on the streets of the regional capital is expected to deter criminal activities during the high-traffic festive season, providing a safe environment for commerce and celebration.
Moving forward, the Regional Command intends to institutionalize regular joint exercises and communication channels to ensure that the renewed unity translates into a more robust and responsive security network for the people of the Ashanti Region.
