The National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah has presented five cars and fifty motorbikes to four security agencies in the Upper East Region.
The donation on Friday, October 21, 2022 forms part of efforts to combat terrorism and extremist activities in the region and the country at large.
The Ghana Immigration Service receive a pickup and 10 motorbikes, Military got one pickup, and 15 motorbikes. Also, the Ghana Police Service got one pickup and 20 motorbikes whereas the National Investigations Beaureu received two pickups and five motorbikes.
Ghana, unlike its counterparts in the West African Sub-region, has not faced any form of attack largely owing to the call on citizens to be vigilant and to help the security agencies with credible information which has in the recent past led to the arrest of some persons.
The country, however, continues to face the spillover of extremist activities as it currently serves as host to Burkinabe nationals who are fleeing such attacks.
It is on this score, that the National Security Ministry is making efforts to retool the security agencies in a bid to position them in a manner that they can prevent, respond and contain any form of threat.
Presenting the items to the security agencies at the premises of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah noted that the region’s situation is quite critical as it not only faces threats of extremists activities but also has a huge task of managing conflicts in Bawku and the Doba-Kandiga areas.
The minister explained that there is a clear desire by terrorists to go further south including making advances at Ghana hence the need to retool the security agencies to adequately respond.
“Yes, we have security challenges in all the regions of Ghana but I think that the security challenges in your region are peculiar, very significant, and need lots of attention. The tribal conflict in Bawku is something that is serious and requires careful management. We also do have the challenges posed by the terrorist in nearby Burkina Faso they have caused damage they have done similar damage to Niger, and Chad and there is clearly a desire on the part of the terrorists to come further south. For us in Ghana, we have been attacked and we cannot afford not to recognize the people that have made it possible for us not to be attacked.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu while indicating that the coordinating council will ensure the proper usage of the donated cars and motorbikes, also appealed to the ministry to consider the other agencies including the Fire Service, Prisons Service, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority for similar donation.
