The National Security Council has called for public watchfulness,
revealing Tuesday Ghana faces a possible terrorist threat. After a meeting
called at the request of President John Mahama, the Council advised the general
public to be cautious, curious, and report any suspicious activities to law
enforcement agencies. Chaired by the President, the National Security Council
reviewed the security situation in the country in the rouse of an upsurge of
terrorist attacks in the West Africa sub-region - Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote
d’Ivoire -- and current intelligence on extremist activities in the region. A
statement issued after the meeting by Communication Minister, Edward Omane
Boamah, advised Ghanaians and other national resident in Ghana to bear with
security measures that may be enforced at various locations from time to time
for the purpose of public safety. The statement said the National Security
Council on the basis of briefings by the intelligence agencies and partners has
determined that there is a credible terrorist’s threat to all countries in the
sub-region. The meeting also reviewed Ghana’s anti-terrorism preparedness,
joint services operations and other measures to ensure the safety of the
citizenry. The Council will review the country’s security situation on a
continuous basis, the statement urged. Attacks on Cote D’Ivoire last Sunday in three
hotels in the beach resort city of Grand-Bassam claimed 16 lives, while in
January a similar attack at a hotel in Ouagadougou killed 28 people and injured
a further 56. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility
for both attacks that targeted foreign nationals. Ghana has since been on high
security alert after the attack on its neighbours, with many analysts doubtful
about the country’s ability to forestall a possible attack. Parliament on
Monday, March 14 met with top security chiefs to discuss the country's
preparedness to respond to a possible terror threat.
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