US Embassy Security Message: Ghanaians Must Ensure USA's Fears Doesn't Materialize

Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, a security expert has urged that instead of Ghanaians brooding or being apprehensive of the statement issued to American citizens in Ghana by its Embassy, �we should rather ensure that the American�s fear don�t come to pass�. According to him, �America's primary responsibility is to its national interest and citizens. It is a prioritised need. In Ghana, our prioritised need is to protect the country�s national interest as well as Ghanaians and that is what the Americans are doing. They have done theirs and so we also have to match up by ensuring that we protect our interest and that of all Ghanaians after the Supreme Court final ruling�. Mr Sowatey said the statement issued is just a precautionary measure which is done by most countries, adding, �it doesn�t mean necessarily that they are declaring violence in the country�If I was to be an American, I would have done the same thing�. He advised that after the verdict is announced, the media should be careful especially with call-in programmes because that can plunge the country into serious trouble. �By the time you make up your mind of coming to verify what has already been said by the caller, it would have started creating pockets of violence. Because this is a novelty issue and we are all new to this situation, the media needs to ensure that after the ruling, we moderate our programmes and call-ins. We have to do more investigations before putting things on air. We have to make sure that the Americans fear will not come to pass,� he admonished. The security expert is sure that with the strong cooperation the various political parties involved in the election petition have had with the National Security, any sign of violence will be curtailed. �That is our strength; however in security, it is only God who can give you 100 percent security. We can do everything humanly possible to ensure that nothing happens but it is God who can make our efforts complete�The police and other security agencies must show neutrality. Party members must also not laugh or intimidate anybody because Ghana does not belong to one person. We should make sure to protect our country�this is an opportunity to show that Ghanaians are matured and is ready to protect our national identity� he opined.