Kumasi, Dec 30, GNA - The military in conjunction with the Ghana Police Service in the Ashanti region on Friday held a special operation codenamed "Operation Show Flag" in Kumasi.

It was aimed at alerting the public to know that they were ever prepare to defend the country in any eventuality.

The operation, which involved 173 military and police personnel, was under the command of Brigadier Williams Agyapong. The military and the police drove in a convoy of vehicles through the principal streets in Kumasi and later converged at the police headquarters.

Addressing them, Brigadier-General Joseph Narh Adinkrah, General Officer Commanding the Northern Command, assured the public that the security agencies were ever ready to defend the nation and as such they should go about their activities confidently. He said, "We are totally committed to safeguard and defend the country to ensure development". Brigadier-Gen Adinkrah therefore appealed to the public to give them the necessary information to help them curb criminal activities in the region.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, on his part said the operation was not to put any fear in the public but to make them aware of their onerous responsibility of maintaining peace and order. He extended gratitude and appreciation to the police and the military for the good work done over the years and urged them to continue with the same zeal as the country ushers in year 2006.