Apart from the socio-economic and political challenges of Ghana and denying the people the necessary developments, there is also the problem of Ghanaians not being security conscious, as well as security educated.
Unlike in the advanced world, where residents are conscious of the happenings in their environment and will quickly call the police to intervene, same cannot be said about Ghanaians. In this country, either the people take the law into their own hands or ignore to follow the law in its totality.
In any given neighbourhood, new residents move in and out without any proper tracking by the police or the people living in the vicinity. There is also no collaboration between landlords and the police about the profile of new tenants who take up residency.
Although since the event of September 11, 2001, most countries have been forced to tighten their border and port securities, the fervour that caught the whole world seems to have died down now, even in the face of renewed terrorist attacks.
Despite the recent disturbances by the Western Togoland insurgents, and sporadic terrorist attacks in the West Africa sub-region, Ghana seems to have increased security presence and patrols. Some hotels also ensure that visitors are properly scanned before using the facility. Despite the above, it was rather frightening when the Central Regional Police Command arrested four ‘macho’ men with offensive weapons at a popular hotel in Agona Swedru, in the Central Region.
This beats our imagination and we question whether the said hotel had put security measures in place. What if the so-called macho men were suicide bombers or hired assassins?
Even though the police is yet to come out with their report of the intent mission of the suspects – Saddick Abubakar, Gordon Kunya, Isaac Addea and Dauda Fatua – the “bush telegraph” has it that they were allegedly hired to cause harm to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the area, Cynthia Morrison.
Immediately, fingers were being pointed at her opponent, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate. The police have, however, refuted the allegation.
The Chronicle is particular about how political events are turning out lately ahead of the 2020 general elections. Although by law vigilantism has been disbanded, it is incumbent on the various political parties, specifically NDC and NPP, to ensure that the peace of the country is well preserved.
We have come a long way as a country to be wrecked by pockets of ‘guerrilla tactics’ to mar the country’s peace.
The Chronicle is afraid that our security agencies might be losing the fight against arms invasion. We want to appeal to the police to intensify arms control while compelling hotels and other public places to beef up their security.
Similarly, we also want to appeal to the various political parties to first consider that they want the mandate of the people to secure the country. Therefore, what does it benefit any citizen who destroys the country just to get political power?
We must all put our shoulders to the wheel and play our part before, during and after the 2020 elections. We owe it to Ghana.
The post Editorial: Let us not build a society of ‘guerrilla fighters’ appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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