President Akufo-Addo has called on Ghanaians and all residents of the country to join the necessary measures instituted by government to protect the country’s territorial integrity against extremist activities.
“Government is determined to do all it can to ensure there is security inevery inch of the territory of our country, but it also is very much up tothe citizens to help create the needed atmosphere, and I am, thus,appealing to all citizens to take theSee Something, Say Somethingcampaign of the Ministry of National Security very seriously”, Akufo-Addo noted during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) he delivered to Parliament yesterday Tuesday February 27.
The ‘See Something, Say Something’ is proactive measure by the National Security Ministry to create awareness about the need for citizens to be security conscious and vigilant at all times and report suspicious activities that could potentially compromise national security.
Residents in Ghana are encouraged to dial a toll free number, 999 to report any and all forms of suspicious persons and behavior.
Address the nation in Parliament yesterday, the President noted: “I am glad to be able to report that the entire territory that makes up our nation is safe, secure and under the control of the government and people of Ghana. This might sound like a pedestrian statement with which to start a message on the State of the Nation. Unfortunately, far from it being an everyday truism, this is no longer a statement or claim that can be easily made in these times in the neighbourhood in which we are. West Africa is under threat of terrorism and violent extremism, rapidly spreading southwards from the Sahel to coastal West Africa. We can no longer take the territorial integrity of our countries for granted. Indeed, many of our neighbours have already fallen victim, and lost large portions of their territories to extremist groups, and Ghana, by the grace of the Almighty, is the only coastal state along the Gulf of Guinea that has so far not recorded a terrorist attack”.
President Akufo-Addo noted further that the peace and security in Ghana has not happened by chance and had has taken deliberate policy and planning on the part of Government, and a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the security services to keep the country safe and secure.
He added: “I might add that it has also meant we have had to spend a lot of money that would otherwise have been available to spend on many of our development needs. But I believe we are all agreed that the primary responsibility of the State towards its citizens is to provide and guarantee peace and security, and we are doing just that.
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“Since we came into office, we have ensured a significant expansion of the Armed Forces and all the other security agencies. We are paying diligent attention to their welfare as well. The accommodation and physical environment generally of the security agencies are being improved. We have quickened the pace of the retooling and equipping of the security agencies to ensure readiness towards the emerging security threats.
For the majority of us and our everyday activities, it is the security of our streets and homes and communities that concern us most. We want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a safe atmosphere, and the Ghana Police Service play the lead role in this”, Akufo Addo added.
