National Security Coordinator, Major General Francis Adu Amanfo, has admonished teachers to educate students about terrorism.
Admitting that teachers are essential development agents, Major General Amanfo said they could help avert risks and improve citizen safety and security by informing students and the general public about new security concerns and potential breaches.
“Teachers are critical nation builders. If Ghana can be successful in its measures against terrorism, it would require the active involvement of teachers in educating the public,” he stressed.
Addressing a gathering between the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Accra, Major General Amanfo reiterated that due to a recent surge in extremism, violent groups, coup d’etats, cyber fraud, piracy, and other security threats in the West African sub-region, there was the need to raise consciousness about the threats to keep the public alert.
There have been heightened efforts to deal with threats of terrorism following an attack in neighbouring Togo.
Aljazeera reported that in the early hours of 11 May 2022, about 60 attackers on motorcycles launched a “violent terrorist attack” on a military post in Kpinkankandi – near the border with Burkina Faso – killing eight Togolese soldiers and wounding 13, according to the Togolese government.
Security Minister General Damehame Yark said 15 of the attackers died.
Among other things, the ministry also advised the installation of CCTVs at designated public places.
The ministry intensified efforts to deal with the threats with the launch of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ three days ago.
The emergency call centre number 999 was also introduced for the public to report suspicious activities.
In a related development, the Minister for National Security, Mr. Kan-Dapaah, has said the state security and intelligence agencies remained on high alert to contain any eventuality.
He emphasised that safeguarding the country’s security and stability remained a key priority for all state security and intelligence agencies.
“To that end, we will remain vigilant and will continue to work in strengthening our capacity to effectively mitigate all forms of these attacks,” he assured.
Additionally, the security enforcement agencies have been organising simulation exercises with important information being circulated on how to act during a terrorist attack.
The national security minister indicated that the support the government had from the Interior and Defence Committee of Parliament paved the way for the retooling of the security and intelligence agencies to deal with terrorism.
That, he said, was not to suggest that the security and intelligence agencies did not have sufficient equipment and tools at the time.
He added that there had been a deliberate effort to retool and add to the equipment that the country needed to ward off any security threat in recent times.
Apart from Burkina Faso, there had been attacks in Cote d’Ivoire, about seven attacks in Benin, and recently, one terrorist attack in Togo.
“So far, there has not been any attack in Ghana. It does not mean that the terrorists are not planning to attack. We believe they may be planning, and the best way to handle it is to ensure that we also do all that is necessary to contain the situation,” Mr Kan-Dapaah added.