SECURITY PERSONNEL IN UE COMMENDED (D/G Wednesday, September 24, 2008.PAGE 21)

THE Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, has commended personnel of the security services in the region for their professionalism in the performance of their duties that has sustained the peace in the region.
The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, at a handover parade held in honour of the outgoing Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, in Bolgatanga.
DCOP Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, who assumed duty in October 2005, is on transfer to the Northern Region as the Northern Regional Police Commander.
He has been succeeded by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, who until his elevation was the Deputy Regional Police Commander.
"The police and the other security agencies in the region are beacons of hope as far as maintenance of peace and security is concerned. To me there is nothing worthier than the peace and security the region is enjoying. The people in this region owe them a debt of gratitude," Mr Samari said.
He stated that despite its challenges, the police service had contributed immensely towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Region.
The regional minister particular lauded the outgoing Regional Police Commander for his sterling leadership qualities that brought about peace in trouble spots in the Upper East Region such as Bawku, Tongo-Beo and Gonno-Torsin and an end to the Sandema Chieftaincy dispute, among others.
While commending the outgoing police officer for a good work done, Mr Samari also gave the assurance that the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would give his successor the necessary assistance to operate more efficiently.
In his speech, DCOP Gyeabour noted that despite the numerous constraints and challenges facing the police service in the region, they had worked hard to sustain peace in the area.
He expressed his appreciation to the Upper East RCC, the traditional rulers, sister security agencies, and the good people of the region for their co-operation.
DCOP Gyeabour urged his colleagues, senior police officers and other service personnel to continue to work more assiduously and win the confidence of the people.
While thanking the media for the co-operation he enjoyed during his tenure of office, he also enjoined them to be circumspect in their reportage.
DCOP Gyeabour later handed over the baton of office to his successor, ACP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, after which he was symbolically pulled out of the premises of the Regional Police Headquarters to end his tenure of office.
DCOP Gyeabour had earlier inspected a special send-off parade made up of 60 personnel under the command of Assistant superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Tay.
Present were the Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces, Tamale, Lt Col Joseph Aphour; the Upper East Regional Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Mr Evans Klutse; the Regional Commander, Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs Florence Yeboah; service commanders of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), traditional rulers, departmental heads and other security personnel.