Terrorist threat: No worries; security agencies wide awake – Deputy Defense Minister

Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj. Rtd. Derrick Oduro has urged Ghanaians not to entertain any fears in the wake of terrorist threats as the country’s security agencies are firmly on the ground to prevent or crush terrorists who may strike in Ghana.

His assurance follows a warning by the Africa Center for Security and Intelligence Studies(ACSIS) that Churches in Ghana are the potential target of a terrorist group, Salafi-Jihadist based in Burkina Faso.

In a security alert, the Centre said the group has been moving in and out of Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso over the past four months.

Their most immediate target would be churches in the Northern region while the terrorists are likely to operate from mining zones.

Mining areas, the alert explained, are considered a safe haven for these ideologically-driven criminals.

Already, the Salafi-Jihadist militants on February 15, 2019, killed four Burkinabe customs officers at a checkpoint at Nohao near the Ghana border and burnt three vehicles.

Commenting on the issue, Maj. Rtd Derick Oduro told Akwasi Nsiah on Ghana Kasa on Kasapa FM that the security agencies are leaving nothing to chance as security agencies have been deployed on the ground to deal with any eventuality.

“We are not saying because there’s not been any terrorist attack in Ghana we are relaxing, it is because we’ve increased our security forces presence so many folds on the ground that is why by the grace of God we haven’t experienced any attack."

"They’ve covered every space in the country especially Upper East, Upper West and at our borders, the newly created Regions are also covered. Our ununiformed men are more than those in uniform providing security and this is in order not to create any seen of insecurity in the country and put fear in the citizenry I’m so happy and confident in the measures we’ve put in place.”

Maj. Derick Oduro, nonetheless, urged the public to be security conscious and look out for any suspicious characters as security is a shared responsibility.

Source: ghanaweb.com