In order to justify their inclusion, guards of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) are undergoing a military fitness training.

The month-long training being run by the Fourth Infantry Battalion, is expected to boost the physical and mental abilities of the guards who are expected to maintain sanity on the streets of Kumasi.

It is also expected to increase their [guards] knowledge in traffic management, self-defence, physical drills and also school them on the by-laws of the assembly.

The 30 guards constitute the first batch of the three phase training programme.

Mayor of Kumasi Kojo Bonsu said he expects a remarkable improvement in the attitude and posture of the guards when they resume work after the training programme.

He cautioned the guards to take the training seriously because no mediocrity will be tolerated after the programme.

General Officer commanding the Northern Command, Brigadier General Joseph Adu Boampong, who spoke to the trainees said the training will sharpen the physical outlook and professional posture, as well as improve discipline and commitment to duty of the guards.

He reminded them of their duties as guards, saying it was important towards the enforcement of law and order and the orderly movement of commercial activities in the central business district in the region.

He advised the participants to take the training seriously in order that they be better placed for the demanding task that confronts them as city guards.

The training programme comes after the mayor accused, and threatened to sack, city guards for bribery and allowance of blatant violations of the Assembly’s bylaws.

He said that the level of indiscipline among the guards was intolerable and that a serious attempt must be made at instilling discipline among the guards.