Kan Dapaah orders 24/7 red alert in border towns

Ghana’s Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has called for a sustained and heightened vigilance in all of the country’s border communities particularly within the Upper East Region, given the southward thrust of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel region.

The Minister disclosed the directive in his interaction with security personnel on Thursday June 2, 2022, during an official tour of the Upper East Region to conduct security assessments as part of measures to enhance counter-terrorism operations to respond adequately to the growing threats of terrorism in the country.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah also expressed appreciation for the efforts of the security forces in protecting the country from the infiltration of terrorists and violent extremists and reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of National Security to supporting ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

The Minister had with him a delegation of top notch officers within the country’s security architecture, including Edward Asomani, Deputy National Security Coordinator; Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah, Chief of Army Staff; Air Vice-Marshal Frank Hanson, Chief of Air Staff; and Brig Gen Moses Mohammed Aryee, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Northern Command.

The delegation also visited the barracks and some Forward Operating Bases of the XI Mechanised Battalion and inspected ongoing works to fortify security posts and Forward Operating Bases which are likely to be targeted during terrorist attacks in view of the modus operandi of terrorist groups operating in neighbouring countries.

Suspicious Movements

The National Security Ministry recently gathered intelligence on the suspicious movements of some fellows in and around the environs of Garu in the Upper East Region.

The report was that the suspicious fellows were masked in the face and were last seen on motorbikes, riding towards the mountainous areas in the Garu District.

Around the same period, there were reports of such suspicious fellows lurking around the hills of Bunkprungu-Nankpanduri District in the North-East Region.

On the same subject matter, Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister has said Government has adequately armed the Region and the forces on the ground are fully prepared to deal with terrorist organisations that may attempt attacks.

Meanwhile the entire county has been activated into a ‘See Something, Say Something’, national campaign spearheaded by the National Security Ministry to get residents to be security conscious as well as report any suspicious activities on a toll free line of 999.

Addressing the media in Accra last month, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said intelligence reports have revealed the involvement of some Ghanaians in terrorist attacks in the Sahel region.

Speaking at the same media briefing however, the Deputy National Security Coordinator, Edward Asomani, said the Ministry is on top of the security situation in the country.

He gave an assurance to residents that there is nothing to fear amidst the growing terrorism threats because the Ministry will do whatever it takes to ensure the nation’s security is not compromised in any way.

Edward Asomani however insisted Ghanaians and all persons in the country should support the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign: “We are a proud people with robust security and intelligence architecture, but it is not complete when Ghanaians are not on board with us.”