National Security Warns Religious Groups Over Possible Terrorist Attacks
The Ministry of National Security has warned religious groups in the country against a possible terrorist attack, an official statement has said.
The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) had already warned of of a possible terrorist attacks in Ghana.
A statement issued by the ministry on Friday(13 May) however assured the public measures are being rolled out to safeguard the peace and security of the country.
“In view of the growing threats of terrorism from the subregion and the expansionist drive of terrorist groups towards Coastal West African states, with a renewed modus operandi of targeting public gatherings including places of worship, it is imperative that precautional measures are taken by all stakeholders.” the statement said.
“Although the above directive has become necessary, the Ministry of National Security assures you of our continuous resolve to institute measures aimed at safeguarding the peace and security of the country.” it added
Below is the full statement:
Earlier warning
A new report released by the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) is warning of a possible terrorist attacks in Ghana.
The report said although the West African country has managed terrorist threats over the years, “yet Ghana has been so close to terrorism.”
Time to act
Talking to Accra-based FM on Monday (9 May), the executive director of WACCE, Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar said officials must act swiftly to avert a possible attack in Ghana.
“We have seen the northern borders of Togo and Benin, we have seen in Côte d’Ivoire and also the north and eastern parts that borders to Burkina Faso fall into extremist attacks.
“We are the only country that is yet to experience attacks and we have no reason to believe that we will continue to be immune to that if we don’t take adequate measures to prevent that from happening here if you look at the local vulnerabilities,” Muqthar said.
“We are looking at presently a widespread incidences of unresolved chieftaincy conflicts, ethnic conflicts and more dangerously the situation like Bawku has been left unresolved for a long time and we consider the exploitative nature of extremist to take advantage of such vulnerabilities to either recruit or launch attack,” he said