President John Dramani Mahama on Monday denounced some security agencies for procuring security boots from other countries, while abandoning those produced by the Kumasi Shoe Factory.
“Although the Kumasi Shoe Factory is producing high quality boots for the security services, most of them are still importing from other countries, thereby disobeying my instructions,” he said.
President Mahama, who was addressing a meeting of the Council of State in Accra, said as a result he had directed the Chief of Staff to meet the security commanders to reinforce the directive.
The Members of the Council of State were in a meeting to discuss issues of national concern and to strategise for the Government in the coming days.
President Mahama said the Kumasi Shoe Factory and the Komenda Sugar Factory were projects he was reviving to reduce the importation of their products and it was, therefore, discouraging for people to continue to import similar goods that were produced cheaply domestically.
On the 2016 general election, President Mahama gave the assurance that government would continue to play its role responsibly to ensure that the polls were conducted in a peaceful environment.
He said government would adequately resource the security agencies with equipment and logistics to ensure that the election was peacefully and effectively conducted.
He appealed to the Electoral Commission and leaders of various political parties to educate their followers against any act of violence that could undermine peace and unity before, during and after the general election.
“I will do my best as the President of Ghana to calm the political temperature and hope the Council of State, National Peace Council and various religious groups will help in reducing the political temperature.”
President Mahama gave the assurance that his administration would maintain financial discipline even though there was general election this year.
He said the Government deliberately went in for the International Monetary Fund programme to stabilise the economy and that a review conducted by the close of the year indicated that the economy was on track.
Madam Cecilia Johnson, the Chairperson of the Council of State, called on the security agencies to be extra vigilant, especially along the borders, to report suspicious characters to the authorities for action.
She commended President Mahama for the numerous infrastructural development projects dotted round the country and encouraged him to ensure that every Ghanaian enjoyed his or her share of the national cake.
Madam Johnson said their readiness to engage stakeholders where necessary to promote a congenial atmosphere for decent political activities and a positive outcome of the elections acceptable to all Ghanaians.
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(Nana Kwesi)