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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo has emphasised the government’s commitment to strengthening and fortifying Ghana’s northern borders and points of entry against the threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
According to the President, Ghana cannot be complacent by taking the issues of security threats for granted in the country.
Speaking to Radio Upper West on Monday, August 22, 2022, at the start of his working visit to the Upper West Region, President Akufo-Addo stated that the government is taking “exceptional measures, measures that have not been taken before”, to secure the country’s borders.
“We need all of us to understand that the best way of making sure that our country continues to be at peace so that we can get on with resolving the challenges of development and elimination of poverty, which is our main concern, will be undermined if we go to sleep on this terrorist matter.”
“We created three forward operating bases in the Upper West Region alone, in the Jirapa, Hamile and in Tumu. There is a strong possibility that Gwolu and Wechiau, at some stage, will also be brought on board,” he added.
The president noted that the “see something, say something” campaign, being undertaken by National Security, has caught the imagination of people.
“You can’t possibly deal with threats to security, whether from terrorists or saboteurs, if you don’t have the cooperation of the civilian population. The people who are responsible for the outrage didn’t come from Mars, let me say once again, they come from within, they have to be part of that community.
“So, if those in the community are themselves sufficiently sensitised about their presence and the dangers they pose, that becomes the best form of intelligence, and it, therefore, becomes the conduit for you to be able to act decisively,” he added.
To retool the military in terms of manpower expansion, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the Armed Forces has recruited and trained some 3,000 soldiers between 2017 and 2020. It has, since 2021, embarked on accelerated nationwide recruitment and training to churn out a minimum of 4,000 officers and soldiers annually until 2024, to beef up the strength of our Armed Forces to optimal levels.
Thus, he said, a minimum of 2,000 recruits are trained in recruit training schools of the three Services every six months, whilst the strength of officer cadets enlisted in recent times has creased exponentially since 2020.
As part of efforts to enhance the operational capability, combat efficiency, and logistics capacity of the Armed Forces, he noted measures have been put in place in furtherance of restructuring and retooling.
In some measures, the ruling government has created additional bases, specialised units, and brigades, with the acquisition of requisite equipment, to enhance operations, particularly along Ghana’s northern frontiers.
This expansion has already seen the creation and establishment of the Army Special Operations Brigade, Armoured Brigade, Signal Brigade, and two Mechanised Battalions, which are deployed in the Upper West and Upper East Regions.
Towards enhancing the capability of the Navy, President Akufo-Addo recently commissioned four fast patrol boats, named VOLTA, PRA, ANKOBRA, and DENSU, to protect our maritime resources, especially our offshore Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities.
“All these investments are to ensure that the Armed Forces are well equipped and motivated to deliver on their primary mandate of safeguarding the peace, integrity, and security of the nation, and maintaining Ghana’s contribution to international peace and security,” the President highlighted.
