[ 2016-01-28 ]

Terrorism alert; Ghana’s security woeful – Aning
Director at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and
Research at the Kofi Annan International
Peacekeeping and Training Centre Dr. Kwesi Aning
has expressed some concerns about how security
issues are handled in Ghana.

He has questioned claims by government that
security has been beefed up in the country.

Outgoing Interior Minister Mark Woyongo had
assured Ghanaians that government had put in place
security measures to forestall any terrorist
attacks in the wake of recent attacks in the
sub-region.

Mr Woyongo had noted that policemen had been
deployed to all churches, mosques, shopping malls,
and educational institutions, as a way of
safeguarding the country.

He also emphasised that patrols have been
strengthened along the borders, while information
and intelligence gathering units have been set up
to facilitate intelligence sharing between Ghana
and its neighbours. But Dr Aning says the measures
are not enough.

In his view, security has not been beefed up.
“The fact that three policemen are standing in
front of a building without any equipment and not
understanding why they are standing there
doesn’t mean security has been beefed up,” he
told Class News’ Atiewin Mbillah.

“Let’s not fool ourselves. Those that we are
dealing with are not people, who are interested in
whether there are 10 or 20 policemen. Ask any
policeman in front of any hotel or big building:
‘Why are you standing there?’ He doesn’t
know! Ask him what the basic equipment for
searching somebody are; he doesn’t know! He has
not even been trained on how to search your bag or
the boot of your car,” he added.

According to Dr. Aning, it is not the numbers that
count, but the quality of the training and the
level of preparedness and sharpness.

He noted that when the media continue to report
that security has been beefed up, it creates the
deception that “we are secure”.

He said the media must ask critical questions and
not say “there are four policemen standing in
front of X building and, therefore, security is
beefed up. That is not security”.

He advised Ghanaians to be sharp and
security-conscious and to notice changes around
them.

Source - Classfmonline

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