<<Print>>

Whatever its worth, the signal from the British government to their citizens in the country to be wary of possible Al-Shabab attacks should not be brushed aside. After all, to be forewarned, indirectly as in this case, is to be forearmed. For the first time in the history of this country, Ghanaians in the streets are beginning to talk about the nation�s security. National security was previously viewed as a certain political occupation performed by some shadowy appointees of the ruling party and deployed to the National Security Council�s Blue Gate or the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Harbour chasing CEPS okayed goods. We are elated that the importance and true meaning of national security and how this demands the involvement of all citizens is beginning to dawn on all of us. That is the spirit. It is our hope that the Al-Shabab strike in Nairobi, Kenya, would serve as a critical wake-up call on all of us to consider the country as one large compound whose security, therefore, rests on all of us. We should all, as a matter of urgency, henceforth co-operate in whatever manner we can with the security agencies when we notice unusual or suspicious movements of people, whose identities and religious activities we are uncomfortable with. We have stated it before that Ghana is host to all manner of persons who come in as preachers. Some of these persons originate from countries harbouring religious extremists, yet they enjoy to our detriment the age-old Ghanaian hospitability. Ghana is one country where foreigners, especially West Africans, abuse the ECOWAS free movement of citizens of member countries and instructively these persons originate from extremist-infested locations. Some of such persons are soon assimilated in local communities that they begin to even front for chiefs in the sale of lands and claim citizenship by hook or crook eventually. Ghana is open to itinerant clerics mostly in the Islamic religion, the nature of whose preaching would demand scrutiny to determine when these are veering towards radicalisation of our youth. And who else are more primed to do this than our compatriots in the Islamic religion. We discount the arrival of Boko Haram clerics in the country at our peril. Let us assist the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to deliver on their mandate. It might not be easy in the short-term but given the seriousness of the danger lurking, something must be done and pronto. Intelligence gathering should also be enhanced so that any form of radicalisation of our youth, especially in Islam, would be nipped in the bud before we are overwhelmed. Yes, Ghana is relatively peaceful but taking things for granted is a foolhardy path we should not tread on, especially now!