Security Games flags hoisted

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - Members of the security services have been urged to foster unity among themselves to be better placed to fight a common goal and achieve the results for which they have been set up. Captain (rtd) Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, Deputy Minister of the Interior made the call at a Flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate the opening of this year's Security Services Sports Association (SESSA) Games in Accra on Thursday.

The Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Prison Service, Fire Service, Police Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service are taking part in the one week-long Games, which kick starts from October 31 to November 4.

Capt (rtd) Effah-Dartey said unity plays an important crucial role in the socio economic development of every nation and it is for this reason that the security services must be up and doing not allow the security of the nation to be toyed with.

He urged the participants not to engage in any form of friction among themselves that might bring the games into disrepute but rather use the games as a unifying factor since organising of the Games is to put them in shape through sports to play their role various in the society and in the interest of the country.

Mr Osei B. Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports said government has put in place measures to ensure that the Games are sustained to bring the security services together. He thanked Areeba, a mobile phone company and SG-SSB for their co-sponsorship of the Games and called on other corporate bodies to help develop sports in the country.

Miss Elizabeth Adjei, Chairperson of the Security Services Council and Director of the Immigration Service in an address read for her said discipline, dedication and resilience which had been demonstrated among the security services, produced such renowned national stars as Professor Azumah Nelson (boxing), Ali Jarah (soccer), Mercy Addy, Cynthia Quartey and Hannah Afriyie (athletics) while of late about 90 per cent of the national basketball, hockey, handball and volleyball teams come from the security services.

Areeba presented a cheque of 200 million cedis as their contribution towards organisation of the games while Anglogold Ashanti and Ghana Chamber of Mines donated 20 million cedis with Krif Ghana Limited and Rics Consults also donating various trophies.