President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has announced the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOB) in the north of the country to check the infiltration of terrorists.
Speaking during the tour of the region, the President said that three FOBs would be established in the Upper West Region at Hamile, Jirapa, and Tumu and that the government was considering a request to extend the FOBs to Gwollu and Wechaiu.
He assured that the establishment of the FOBs was part of the conscious efforts of the government to strengthen border security,
“You are here on the borders with Burkina Faso and you know what is happening in that country and how virtually the governmental system and the development of the country have been brought to a halt by the activities of the terrorist groups that are in the Sahel and pushing towards the south,” the report by the Graphic on Monday quoted President Akufo-Addo as saying.
He also assured security officials that the government would do everything humanly possible to provide the needed logistical, human resources, and appropriate policy support to the security agencies to enable them put up their best services.
The President also called for synergy between the security agencies and the civilian community in the discharge of their duties to achieve maximum results and safeguard Ghana’s borders.
He explained that the country was threatened by the activities of violent extremist groups in neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and urged for the security agencies to double their efforts in safeguarding the country’s borders, especially in the northern part of the country.
“If we don’t have security, peace, and stability in our country there is nothing that we can do meaningfully,” he said.
According to him, if the nation is going to prevent any implantation of terrorist activity in Ghana, the security officials cannot do it all alone. “You need the cooperation of the civilian population. So that has to be an important part of your thinking and planning,” he said.
He disclosed that the government was considering implementing social intervention programmes at the border communities to win the hearts of the people against being susceptible to influence by violent extremists.
GIK/APA