Personnel of security agencies have been called upon to remain neutral in the discharge of their duties to ensure unity and development in the country.

They were also urged to be professional and act without fear or favour to enable them to win the trust of the citizenry. 

Wilberforce Zangina, Acting North East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who made the call, said this was necessary to propel the country to higher heights.

He was speaking at separate engagements and interactions with members of the security agencies at Nalerigu in the North East Region as part of activities organised by the NCCE to mark this year's Constitution Week in the region.

The security agencies engaged as part of the Constitution Week celebration in the region included personnel of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Prisons Service. 

Issues discussed included the role of the security agencies in eliminating threats defined by the Constitution and another status of the state.

At each of the engagements with the security agencies, a quiz competition was organised for the personnel to test their knowledge of the 1992 Constitution and deserving officers were awarded copies of the pocket-sized Constitution.

The Constitution Week was instituted in 2001 to commemorate the country’s return to constitutional democracy after many years of military rule.

The celebration was to enhance quality citizenship among the people for effective democratic participation and inculcate into the citizens the spirit of oneness and patriotism.

Mr Zangina emphasised that "For Ghana to remain peaceful, we need a security service that is apolitical and professional without any masters to please."

He spoke about ways to achieve unity and national cohesion in line with Article 35(5) of the Constitution to promote the integration of all people of the country and prohibit discrimination and prejudice on grounds of place of origin, circumstances of birth, gender or religion.

He highlighted some major threats to the unity and cohesion of the country, including religious fundamentalism, political vigilantism, and the Islamists operating from the Sahel Region and along the borders of the northernmost regions of the country.

He took the opportunity to emphasise the need for collective effort in the fight to eliminate the Covid-19 pandemic by getting vaccinated when the vaccines arrive.

Commanders of the various security agencies commended the NCCE for organising the event to encourage the citizenry and the security agencies to rise and defend the Constitution at all times. 

They also called on the government to adequately resource the NCCE to discharge its mandate effectively under the Constitution.