Accra, July 7, GNA - Brigadier-General Martin Ahiaglo, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command (GOC), has assured Ghanaians of maximum security as the security steps up measures to clamp down on the increasing crime wave in the country.

He said the joint operations by the military and the police codenamed "Operation Calm Life" had been strategised to clamp down on criminals and miscreants in the society.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces and signed by Flying Officer Romane Agyei said Brig. Gen. Ahiaglo gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of the re-launch of the anti-armed robbery operations by the military and the police at the Asutuare Training Camp over the weekend. The two-week intensive training brought together 200 military and police personnel to enhance individual physical fitness, building good team spirit and developing esprit de corps.

During the period, personnel went through activities such as weapon handling, map reading, range work, first aid, physical training and armed combat.

The statement said the GOC assured personnel of government's support in terms of equipment required to enable them to perform their duty efficiently and charged them to adopt professional posture when going out on patrol to deter criminals.

He commended personnel for showing enthusiasm and endurance during the training period.

The statement said Assistant Commissioner of Police Boi-Bi-Boi, Director of Operations, Police Headquarters, said the training was to review the modus operandi of "Operation Calm Life" which started in 2001 to bring sanity and efficiency into the system. He urged personnel to use the experience they had acquired during the training to improve their standards.

Mr Boi-Bi-Boi said he was confident that after the training, the crime wave in the country would reduce considerably to create a congenial atmosphere for the citizens to go about their duties without fear.