Koforidua, May 8, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has reminded Regional, District, Municipal and Metropolitan Security Councils that they do not exist merely to grapple with chieftaincy disputes, tribal conflicts and armed robbers.

He said rather they should focus on human security and sought ways to widen the horizon for social justice, the provision of social amenities, economic opportunities and the reawakening of a sense of communal togetherness.

President Mills said this in an address read on his behalf by Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith, Minister of Defence on Saturday at the opening ceremony of a two-day zonal workshop in Koforidua for Regional and District Security Committee members from the Eastern, Greater Accra and Volta Regions.

The workshop aimed at managing security issues at the national, regional and district levels President Mills said in a situation where individuals did not find it attractive to invest in rural areas, social democracy required the district assemblies to lead in the developmental efforts. "The planning and implementation of this should be the primary concern of the councils," he added.

The President challenged the assemblies not only to limit their efforts to the building of markets and toilets but rather to be involved in the production of goods and services at the local level. "The assemblies should begin to own productive enterprises, provide social amenities and revive the communal spirit, which had in the past been responsible for development in the rural areas. The President said the Better Ghana Agenda should really be more manifested at the district level where the District Security Council (DISEC) and Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) were expected to play a leading role. "Leadership should be provided within the context of the statutes and local legislation in the form of bye-laws," he said and urged that the youth, who were the assets for a Better Ghana, should be mobilized for increased agricultural production.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, charged the participants to use the workshop as a platform to share ideals and together mapped out strategies that would work to further reduce the incidence of drug trafficking, armed robbery and other vices in the society. He said even though the country had experienced a reduction in such vices since the government assumed power in January 2009, the criminals must be pursued in their hideouts until they found Ghana a very unsuitable environment to carry out their nefarious activities.

"I trust that with the unity of purpose and determination, we can support government to realize its objective of creating relative peace and security in the regions and districts," Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said. He identified chieftaincy disputes, illegal chainsaw and mining operations and the menace of Fulani herdsmen as some major challenges in the region.

On chieftaincy disputes, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said, even though Regional and District Security Councils did not have the mandate to settle them it would not be appropriate for them to stay indifferent while those disputes continued to escalate and threatened the peace and security of the land. 8 May 10