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President Akufo-Addo in presenting the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, 2019 assured the citizenry that the various security services are at the forefront of keeping us and our nation safe.

Paying homage to the men and women of the services for the sterling work that they do, the President said the Ghana Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, have been in Operations CALM LIFE, COWLEG, HALT, CONQUERED, FIST, GONGON, CITADEL, AHODWO and VANGUARD to ensure the safety of the country.

“Ghana is proud of you. Your hard work is contributing to making our nation a safe place. I would like to mention the improvements that have been registered in dealing with nomadic herdsmen,” he said. 

He averred that the Ghana Armed Forces assisted the National Security to embark on OPERATION ROADSTAR, and as a result a 40-cre cattle ranch has been constructed to accommodate over six thousand (6,000) cattle at Wawase, in Afram Plains, and reducing, considerably, the tensions in the area with the nomadic herdsmen.

“There are plans to replicate these ranches in other parts of the country,” he added. 

He said his government is pleased to have fulfilled its promise to the Military Personnel by increasing the United Nations Peacekeeping Troops contribution allowances from Thirty United State Dollars (USD 30.00) to Thirty-Five United State Dollars (USD35.00) per soldier per day.

“And as promised, we will continue to pay the troops regularly at the operational areas. We will continue to modernize and provide the equipment needed by the Military to help them carry out their mandate effectively.

“This year, we will provide the Army with 30 Otokar Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), and 6 Fast Patrol Boats for the Navy. We will also provide improved training facilities by transforming the Military Academy into a World Class Institution, and expand the housing project from six 16 flats to 44, and begin constructing 160 2-bedroom apartments across the country. This year, we will also complete and commission the 500-bed Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region, and begin the third phase of this project”.

President Akufo-Addo again revealed that the amendment of LI 1332, which is seeking to change the length of service of the men and women of the other ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces from 25 to 30 years and the associated career progression plan, has been reviewed, laid and passed by Parliament, and will be implemented this year as planned.

"Mr Speaker, it is the police that we the ordinary citizens have to deal with in our everyday lives. It is, therefore, not surprising that, often, the police come in for a lot of criticism from the people.

"Mr Speaker, as is the case with many of our institutions, things had deteriorated for a long time, and we had come to accept the abnormal as normal. We have been busy this past year supplying the police with equipment, cars, motorbikes, drones and other vital policing equipment.

"Financial clearance has been given, and they are in the process of recruiting up to four thousand (4,000) men and women into the service. That is a first, gradually we are increasing the police numbers, and the service too is waking up to its responsibilities and offering more training to their officers.

"I look forward to a better trained, better equipped and happier police service that has the respect and cooperation of the people. Mr Speaker, we need this well-trained police service if we are to abide by the rule of law.

"I am aware of the frustration of many at the delays in the justice delivery system, which are the result of a multiplicity of factors, which we are trying to address. And this must be the appropriate time and place to mention," he said.