Security Agencies urged to safeguard the Country’s Constitution

24-05-2010 Narration: Security agencies throughout the country, has been tasked to operate within their core mandate in ensuring that the country’s constitution is well protected. The Bolgatanga Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Avolim Wini Sambila, made the call at a forum for security agencies held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The forum attended by 45 officers drawn from the various security agencies and a section of the public was on the theme:” Enhancing Constitutionalism through Effective Citizen’s Participation for Good Governance”. Correspondent Isaac Asare has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.

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Report
The forum forms part of the Annual National Constitution Week with the aim of exciting all stakeholders in the democratic dispensation to dispassionately discuss and evaluate how the 1992 constitution can be fully protected and sustained in ensuring law and order among the citizenry including personnel from the various security agencies. The forum also afforded security agencies as the third estate of the realm, the opportunity to learn more about their civic responsibilities as prescribed by the constitution. Various discussions on the theme” The Role of the Security Agencies in the protection of the Constitution”, was also held to educate
Security officers on their core duties. The Bolgatanga Municipal Director of the NCCE, Mr. Sambilla said much is expected from the country’s security agencies since they play a formidable role in opposing all forms of abuses of the law including the constitution itself. He urged them to let their belief in the notion of respect for the rule of law be seen in their actions and behaviours. Mr. Sambila reminded them to be abreast with the tenets of the constitution and also refrain from all acts of indiscipline and activities that tend to put the name of their respective organisations into disrepute. He mentioned extortion, torture, long and unjustified remands among other unprofessional behaviours as some of the challenges that need to be avoided in the course of their duties. The Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr. P.H Mensah stressed the need for security agencies especially the investigation units to be alert and expose any potential or imminent violation or subversion of the constitution and then take the necessary remedial action. Mr Mensah charged security personnel to be discipline at all time whether in uniform or not. He however entreated the police in particular, to help treat cases brought to them with all the seriousness, expedience and fairness they deserve. Mr Mensah also called on the general public to partner the police in combating crime in the society. This, he noted, can be done if the police are provided with the right information and reports about criminals.

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