Minister for Defense Dominic Nitiwul has stated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Add deserves commendation for all the work he has done to keep Ghana safe from terrorists.
According to him, today countries in the West African sub-region are facing real security challenges with terrorism being a major threat.
He averred that Ghana has, however, been spared all these threats and remains an oasis in the middle of all the chaos and turmoil.
Contributing to the Motion in Parliament to thank the President for his Message on the State of the Nation last Friday, the Defense Minister argued President Akufo-Addo should have parted himself on the back for such achievement but never did.
The President, in his message on the state of the nation, indicated he does not worry about the extraordinary expenditure on security at Ghana’s borders to keep them safe.
He stressed that the government will dare not compromise on the safety and security of the nation, and that his first responsibility as Commander-In-Chief is to keep all Ghanaians safe.
He argued that the foundation for all development is the safety and security of the nation and its people.
He said, “The reality of the state of affairs in our neighbourhood demands that the government goes to great lengths to ensure the security, safety and stability of our nation.”
“The threats of terrorism and violent extremism surrounding us require that we pay maximum attention to protecting our borders, and working in collaboration with our neighbours to keep our country and the Region safe. This is the prime motive for the Accra Initiative, which is already yielding results.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am able to cite here some of the equipment we have provided the military to help them protect us all. Allow me to list a few. The Army has received one hundred and four (104) armoured personnel carriers; seventy (70) utility troop carrying vehicles; twenty (20) armoured vehicles; eighty-five (85) assorted Toyota vehicles; fifty (50) Ankai buses; forty (40) Jeep J8 vehicles; some Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment; large quantities of communication/surveillance equipment; varying quantities of weapons and four (4) un-maned aerial vehicle systems; and the Ghana Navy has taken delivery of four (4) offshore security vessels and four (4) Zodiac boats.
“We have also continued the process of upgrading the housing needs of the security services. The Barracks Regeneration Project Phases I and II, the Military Housing Project Phases I and II and the Ghana Military Academy Infrastructure project are expected to be completed and handed over by the end of May this year,“ he added.
The defence in his contribution stated the amount of work done by the Akufo-Addo administration in security is unparallel and indicated the administration has done tremendous work at the border towns to protect the country.
The government, he said, is spending a lot of money keeping the security agencies at the borders.
According to him, ten years ago terrorism may not have been an issue to Ghana, Burkina Faso or even a few of the nations down south of West Africa but today it is stressed it will difficult to see ten cars moving on the major road from Burkina to Ghana vice versa, which used to have more than 100,000 cars a day.
“We’re taking security for granted because it is so good in Ghana. Even as security deteriorates in West Africa, Ghana has improved so much. Seven years ago you needed a security escort to travel from Kintampo to Tamale in the evening but today we don’t need it.”
“You needed security escort from Techiman through Bole to Wa, today we don’t do it.”
He noted that the President and his government acknowledge the most critical aspect of every human life is to be alive and knowing that security is so important spent a large amount of resources to ensure the safety of Ghanaians.
Mr. Nitiwul disclosed the government is currently building operating bases for the armed forces to envelope the northern sector.
He mentioned that under the Accra initiative, the government is collaborating with the rest of West Africa, particularly Burkina Faso, Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Benin and Niger under an operation where all information are shared to keep the nations safe.