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National security chiefs have decided to beef up security at marketplaces and other important places to increase their readiness to respond swiftly to fire outbreaks and other disaster situations. Consequently, a patrol team of police and Fire Service personnel would be stationed at markets to detect and prevent or mitigate the effects of disaster situations and criminal attacks. The decisions were taken at a meeting between government representatives and security chiefs at the Flagstaff House, Kanda in Accra yesterday. The meeting, held behind closed doors and chaired by the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, was to review the security situation in the country. It discussed the recent fire outbreaks at markets, illegal mining, the recent killings in Kumasi and the general security situation. The security chiefs present were the National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey; the Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quashie; the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General Richard Opoku Adusei; the Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore G.M. Biekoro; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall M. Samson Oje, and the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Alhassan. Also at the meeting were the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi; the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga, and representatives of the National Disaster Management Organisation. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Mr Ayariga said the security chiefs gave an assurance that the security situation in the country was calm. He said they reiterated their commitment to continue to ensure the safety of lives and property. Mr Ayariga said the meeting discussed the recent killing of two persons in Kumasi and decided to beef up security in the city to prevent gangsterism there and other parts of the country. On illegal mining, he said the security chiefs spoke about its threat to human lives and the environment. Therefore, he said, the security agencies had outlined measures to curb illegal mining in the country. Mr Ayariga said the meeting also discussed how to promote relations between the security services and the media in the light of recent developments. He said it was agreed at the meeting that the security services should be well resourced and capacitated to carry out their security work.