Security Personnel in Eastern Ghana Encouraged to Desist From Excessive Alcohol And Drugs

Service commanders in the Eastern Region of Ghana have called on security personnel to adopt healthy lifestyles by reducing their intake of alcohol and avoiding drugs. The commanders from the Ghana National Fire Service, Immigration Service and Ghana Prisons emphasized that the excessive intake and abuse of alcohol have the potential to cloud the judgment of security personnel, influencing their decision-making and compromising their performance.

The call came during a 15-kilometer health walk through the principal streets of Koforidua, led by the service commanders and personnel to mark this year’s Workers’ Day celebration. The walk, aimed at keeping service personnel fit, also sought to strengthen working relationships among them.

The Eastern Regional Fire Service Commander, Jennifer Naa Yaaley Quaye, emphasized that security personnel need to be physically and mentally fit to perform their duties professionally. She urged them to avoid junk food and take their health issues seriously, as well as exercise regularly. She further warned officers to stay away from alcohol and other unhealthy habits, saying that it would help them perform better on duty.

The Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and Eastern Regional Commander, Faisal Bissue, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that alcohol, smoking, and drugs are prohibited in every security agency. He urged personnel to take their personal well-being seriously and avoid any conduct that could compromise their performance.

The Ghana Medical Association, together with sister associations such as the Ghana Bar Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, and the Ghana Journalists Association, also held a sporting event to promote healthy living. After a 6-kilometer walk, the group engaged in a combined aerobic exercise and friendly competitions in football, draft, cards, scrabbles, and dancing.

The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Medical Association and Medical Superintendent of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw, noted that the health games aimed to remind people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He encouraged Ghanaians to embrace healthy living practices that would enhance their overall well-being.

For the most part, the call for security personnel to embrace healthy living practices is crucial for improving their performance and ensuring that they are physically and mentally fit to discharge their duties effectively. It is essential that they avoid unhealthy habits such as alcohol and drug abuse to enable them to make sound judgments and decisions on duty.

Source: Citi Newsroom