The National Security Coordinator, Dr Sam Amoo Ghartey has reiterated the determination of the security agencies to maintain the country’s democratic dispensation. He said inspite of the young history of the country, “we are a people who have gone through a lot; we have been freed, berated, redeemed, revolutionised and eventually we have achieved democratic dispensation”. Speaking at a training programme for security agencies from the southern command in Accra yesterday, Dr Ghartey said: “The security services are determined to keep this democratic dispensation and never be swayed off target by the vaulting ambitions of the few: We are always ready to fulfil our mandate”. He urged Ghanaians to maintain the peace of the country “with fairness and firmness” during and after the December 7 poll. The joint Police/Military training exercise which forms part of preparations by the election task force towards this year’s election involves regional commanders of all the security agencies. The exercise is designed to synchronise and rehearse operational plans and procedures of all the agencies. Dr Ghartey said the joint exercise “constitutes a vital part of the preparations of the election task force to ensure a congenial and secure environment for the forthcoming election”. He said the agencies were operating under the mantra, “if you want peace, prepare to ensure peace. This exercise is part of our preparation to ensure peace”. The Southern Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brig. Gen Emmanuel Okyere also underscored the importance of the exercise, urging the participants to impart the knowledge acquired to the regional command. The Director of Elections at the Electoral Commission, Albert Kofi Arhin, said the Commission had already begun the process of printing the ballot papers and it would require the assistance of the security agencies at the printing press and during the conveyance of the ballots to the EC premises for distribution. He mentioned that the counting of the ballot papers and their escort to the collating centres as the two crucial points where the services of the security personnel would be needed most. Present at the meeting were the Inspector General of Police, Patrick K. Acheampong and the Director of Ghana Immigration Service, Ms Elizabeth Adjei. The Northern Command training exercise will come off on November 6 and the national exercise on November 16. The national election task force is made up of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police, the Fire Service, Immigration Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service. The Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Western and Central regions from the Southern Command. Source: Ghanaian Times