Sekondi, Sept. 10 - GNA- Major General Joseph B. Danquah, Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) said lack of respect and trust for the Ghana Police Service (GPS) by Ghanaians must change. He said the Police were trained to ensure law and order but the general apathy and unpleasant comments made against the police was not in the interest of the nation.

Maj. Gen. Danquah said these when he paid a day's working visit to some military installations in the Western Region and made courtesy calls on Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo, Regional Minister, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikadu and Nana Nware Eziah, II, a divisional chief of Apremdo. Maj. Gen. Danquah stressed that the Police were purposely trained for civilian duties and should not be misjudged, ridiculed or made irrelevant in the current political dispensation.

He said the military on the other hand have been trained to defend and protect but it would be unfortunate for society to demand the presence of the army when there is no tension or invasion.

"We work with sophisticated weapons and if we move into a community, we move with heavy equipments which could kill and destroy within seconds," he stressed.

Maj. Gen. Danquah therefore urged opinion leaders to educate the populace to understand the various roles of each of the army units to prevent any unfortunate incident.

He appealed to mining companies and other philanthropists to assist the GAF to acquire the requisite transportation and communication gadgets to make their operations effective.

Maj. Gen. Danquah said the GAF and the GPS would continue to work closely to ensure that peace and development within the country were not halted.

Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo said joint Police and Military operations in the region had greatly reduced conflicts, armed robbery and other anti-social activities in the region.

He therefore appealed to the headquarters of the GAF to make logistics and other equipments available to make the operation of the Army, Navy and Air force smooth.

Nana Nketsia said security was a priority for any nation, adding that without peace, there, would be no development while deprivation, hunger and disease will increase.

He commended the GAF for uniting all officers and men within the army and said the country's development and progress, could be fast tracked if Ghanaians avoided "divisive partisan politics and worked together as a team."

Maj. Gen. Danquah held closed-door meetings with officers of the Sekondi Naval Base and a durbar at the Air Force Station.