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The Wa Military Barracks’ Ten Mechanize Battalion pipped the Wa Fire Service team, known as The Extinguishers, with a 1-0 victory in a thrilling football match at the Waala Overland Annual Inter-Security Peace Games in Wa.
The games serve as a platform to foster unity and camaraderie among security agencies and civilians across the region.
July 2021 remains a day inscribed in the memories of Wa municipality residents of the Upper West Region, marked by unrest and panic following a military incident over an alleged phone theft.
To restore peace and calm fears, the Waala Overland Naa, Fusieni Pelpou IV, initiated the Inter-Security peace Games in 2022, which has since become an annual event.
This year’s edition took place at the B.K. Adama Youth Resource Center over three action-packed days, featuring multiple sporting disciplines.
Before kickoff, the Paramount Chief of Buha, Naa Ali Seidu Pelpou, officially represented the Waala Overland in welcoming participants and spectators.
“This game is for the purpose of peace and unity among the security agencies in the Region; hence, it is not a do-or-die affair. Let’s participate, have fun, and make friends to ensure the Wa municipality continues to be peaceful.”
Yahaya Khalid, team lead for the officials managing the games, shared insights on the various competitions held.
“We used three days, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. The activities that were showcased here are 100 meters, 200 meters, 800 meters; then we had a tug of peace for both females and males, and sharp brains. Volleyball and soccer were not left out either.”
The Tug of Peace finals saw the Prison Ladies defeat the Fire Ladies, while in the men’s category, the Ghana Immigration Service succeeded over the Ghana Prison Service.
The headline football match was a showdown between the Ten Mechanize Battalion and the Ghana Fire Service, where the Ten Mechanize Battalion clinched a 1-0 win, securing their second consecutive championship.
The captain is confident that they will defend their title next year.
DSP Yahaya Abdul-Wahid of the Ghana Prison Service, coordinator of the Wa Naa Inter-Security Peace Games, stated that civilians remain a key priority in the municipality and beyond.
“We are here to ensure peace, and we just did it peacefully. This is to tell the public that they are in safe hands, and we will always make them our priority in ensuring peaceful coexistence.”
By Rafiq Nungor ADAM
