Ghana is not immune to terrorist attacks, despite the growing peace and democracy in the country, President Nana Akufo-Addo has said.
In light of the possible occurrence of a terror attack in Ghana, the President said the country is determined to foster religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Ghanaians.
“Despite it being a beacon of peace, stability and democracy in a region that is plagued by the activities of terrorist and extremist groups, Ghana must know she cannot be immune to terrorist attacks.”
“She is determined however to deepen the religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence that exists between majority Christian and the minority Muslim religious groups in the country. They are hallmarks of our nation which we cherish.”
Ghana’s major encounter with terrorism
Speaking at the Kofi Annan Peace and Security forum held in Accra today [Wednesday], the President also recalled instances when the country had come into contact with the activities of terrorist groups.
“Our major encounter with the terrorist group came in 2015 when agents of the so-called Islamic State, succeeded in recruiting a few adherents from the country’s university campuses to join the ranks and the groups fighting in Libya and Syria. They are known to have died in conduct. Two Germans of Ghanaian parentage are also known to have joined the group with one currently serving a jail term in Hamburg, Germany.”
The President also highlighted the activities of terrorist groups in Ghana, saying they usually “take the form of fundraising activities by alleged charitable organizations which divert these funds to support extremist activities around the world.”
Citing examples to support his claim, he indicated that last year security agencies in Ghana had to disrupt the activities of groups purporting to raise funds for Rohingyan Muslims in Ghana which was later discovered to be funding for terror-related activities.
In aid of the global call to action against terrorism and violent extremism, Ghana has signed and ratified a number of international instruments aimed at the prevention and suppression of terrorism.
The President’s comments on terrorism may not be far fetched, given the increased threat of terror attacks on churches in the sub-region.
Four persons were killed in an attack on a Catholic church in northern Burkina Faso late in May.
That was the latest in a string of assaults on Christian places of worship in Ghana’s neighbour to the north.
Burkina Faso has seen more than 230 terror attacks in a little over three years.