Terrorism is gradually expanding its influence in the West African sub-regions; a very worrying phenomenon indeed. Quite recently, Islamic extremist Boko Haram who operated mostly in Nigeria and some parts of Cameroon were considered the main threat; but can we say that today? I doubt.
Mali was hit by African jihadi group attack last year November, Burkina Faso suffered similar fate in January this year and just yesterday Cote D’viore witnessed a blood bath that has plunged the country into mourning.
Ghana probably is the most shaken amongst the countries in the sub-region as two of these disasters stroke countries that it shares borders with (Burkina Faso to the North and Cote D’iviore to the West).
As the local parlance puts it “Se wote se agya ato w’nua abodwese mu a, na wasa nsuo esi wo die ho” to wit, one must be watchful when ill befalls a friend or a neighbour. The question is – is Ghana prepared to manage any such happenings ‘touch wood’ should it happen to us?
Most citizens already are living in fear of terror attack with the two Guantanamo Bay detainees in the country.
What are the security agencies doing to reassure Ghanaians as far their security is concerned in the face of increasing terror attacks across the sub-region?
Are assembly men, opinion leaders, the media, security analysts etc creating the direly needed consciousness among nationals and equipping them with requisite resources to avoid the near occasion of such happening or even how to manage it?
With the poor management exhibited in the transporting of victims in the recent ghastly Techiman accident, can we say that our health sector have ready and up-to-date equipment to save victims should an attack hit Ghana?
Living in a country where patrons (shoppers) just drop bags at checkpoints in malls without having them scanned, can we say we are safe?
Well, Ivory Coast attack may be a wake-up call for Ghana to aggressively address security concerns, especially when President Mahama has expressed his willingness and preparedness to combat terrorism during Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan visit.
The inevitable reality we must face as a people is that, we cannot treat terrorism with the usual reactive approach we usually take as a country because believe it or not terrorism has already knocked on our doors.
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