Apremdo (W/R), June 3, GNA - Brigadier-General Martin Kwaku Gamiel Ahiaglo, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Army, has appealed to soldiers to respect the country's constitution and the civilian population.

He made the call at a durbar with officers and men of the Second Battlion of Infantry at Apremdo near Takoradi on Tuesday. Brigadier-General Ahiaglo said the Ghana Army derives its existence from the constitution and as such, military personnel should act according to the provisions of the constitution at all times. He said military personnel should recognize that democratic governance is an essential ingredient of development.

Brigadier-General Ahiaglo said the army is also mandated to protect and defend the territorial sovereignty of the country and national integrity adding military personnel must, therefore, respect the civilian population in the course of performance of duties. He said if they failed to do so, the civilian population would in turn not respect them because respect must be earned. Brigadier-General Ahiaglo commended the officers and men of the battalion for ably supporting last year's presidential and general elections and for working with the police to create conditions and atmosphere for peace so that peace loving Ghanaians could go about their duties unafraid. He congratulated his predecessor for his accomplishments and urged officers and men of the southern command to work with him as team to build on these achievements.