Ashanti Regional Security Agencies Pledge Lasting Unity of Purpose Towards Peaceful Yuletide
From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi
In a decisive move to bolster public confidence and streamline regional safety operations, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Arthur Osei Akoto, has called for an end to inter‑agency friction and urged all security forces to embrace a new era of permanent collaboration.
The appeal was made during an address to personnel from various security wings following a high‑profile “visibility walk” through the streets of Kumasi on Saturday. The exercise, designed to signal readiness and provide reassurance to residents during the festive season, drew participants from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the National Security Secretariat.
In his remarks, DCOP Osei Akoto highlighted a critical issue that has occasionally marred the reputation of the security services: internal “counter‑attacks” and public displays of animosity between different branches. “Such incidents not only damage the professional image of our institutions but also compromise the very safety we are sworn to protect,” he said. “Unity should be our bedrock. Past reports of different security forces attacking each other cast a slur on our image in the eyes of the public and on our very existence.”
He declared that the era of “turf wars” must come to a definitive end, to be replaced by a unified front that prioritizes the peace and stability of the Ashanti Region. Emphasizing that the visibility walk was not a temporary public‑relations stunt, he added, “I’m sure what we have displayed today is not going to be a nine‑day wonder. Let’s continue to be united; in unity is our strength. Together we stand, divided we fall.”
Linking the professional call for unity to the spiritual significance of the season, the Commander urged 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 visibility walk itself was hailed as a success, with a large turnout of officers and ranks from the participating agencies. 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.
Looking ahead, the Regional Command intends to institutionalize regular joint exercises and communication channels to ensure that the renewed spirit of cooperation translates into a more robust and responsive security network for the people of the Ashanti Region.
