Major General Tim Ba-Taa-Banah, Director of the National Counterterrorism Fusion Centre, has identified citizen complicity in criminal activities as a significant threat to Ghana's national security. He stated that the deliberate or inadvertent protection of criminals by citizens, including providing them with accommodation, transportation, and other forms of support, could undermine the efforts of security agencies to prevent and combat crime.
Major General Ba-Taa-Banah made these remarks during a National Dialogue on "Sustaining Post-Election Peace and Strengthening Community Resilience Against Emerging Security Threats in Southern Border Communities of Ghana" in Accra. The dialogue was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He emphasised that citizens sometimes complain about the inability of security agencies to deal effectively with criminals while withholding information that could assist investigations.
Landowners and community members who knowingly provide shelter to criminals contribute to creating an environment in which criminal activities thrive. Major General Ba-Taa-Banah stressed that Ghana has remained relatively secure despite security challenges in the West African sub-region but cautioned against complacency. He noted that Ghana's geographical location and proximity to countries experiencing violent extremism and transnational organised crime mean that developments in the northern parts of the country could have implications for communities in the south.
Major General Ba-Taa-Banah urged citizens to complement the work of security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and anomalies within their communities, either directly to security agencies or through traditional authorities. He also stressed the need to sustain measures to control small arms and light weapons, saying their misuse has contributed significantly to conflicts in parts of West Africa. He called for continued public education and initiatives that encourage the voluntary surrender of unlicensed weapons.
Madam Victoria Ama Asieduwaa, a Peace and Conflict Analyst at the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, called for the establishment of community peace structures involving chiefs, youth leaders, women's groups, and other stakeholders. She noted that low levels of reporting were partly linked to declining public trust in state institutions and urged stakeholders to improve access to justice to restore confidence.
Dr. Mustapha Abdallah, a Senior Researcher at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), said Ghana needs to address internal vulnerabilities that could make communities susceptible to violent extremism. He identified unemployment, inequality, marginalisation, and governance challenges as some of the conditions that have contributed to radicalisation and violent extremism in parts of the Sahel.
Ms. Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of NCCE, stressed that although Ghana has a strong reputation as a peaceful and stable democracy, the country cannot afford to take its peace and security for granted. She called for nationwide security-related interventions rather than concentrating in northern Ghana, warning that southern and coastal communities are also exposed to emerging threats, including violent extremism, narcotics, cross-border crime, and disinformation.
Key points
- Citizen complicity in criminal activities is a major threat to Ghana's national security.
- Ghana's geographical location and proximity to countries experiencing violent extremism and transnational organised crime pose a security risk.
- Community peace structures and public education are essential in preventing conflict and violent extremism.
