Ghana has recorded 18 incidents of terrorism resulting in 19 deaths and 13 casualties between 1985 and 2014, according to the Global Terrorism Database produced by the University of Maryland, United States.
The Commandant for the Ghana Police Service Academy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alphonse Adu Amankwa, disclosed this at a capacity building and awareness creation on money laundering and financing of terrorist activities in Ghana, in Tema.
It was organised by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) in collaboration with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) for members of the security agencies, traditional and religious organisations, civil society organisations, educational institutions and the media
ACP Amankwa said if the 35-year period report is to be trusted, “then the belief in the fact that terrorism has never visited the shores of the country is but a wishful thinking”.
He mentioned porous border, wide open ungoverned spaces at vast boundaries, political stability, ethnic and communal violence, pervasive corruption, widespread poverty and unemployment and underdevelopment, especially among the youth as a precondition for terrorism.
ACP Amankwa said Ghana seems to be a country with hybrid of the two sets of conditions for terrorist attacks, which according to him, had more than a few of the first sets of conditions for terrorist attacks. “Our borders are porous as evidenced by the wide scale smuggling; we have issues of ethnic and communal violence; we also have widespread poverty and finally you will agree with me that we also have relatively high rates of unemployment and underemployment,” he said.
A Dean for the Wisconsin International University College (WIUC), Dr. Albert Gemegah, said terrorism was being funded through money laundering, adding that both crimes affected the economy, society and governance.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, condemned money laundering and financing of terrorism, and said the assembly would support NCCE to educate the public on the menace.
An Appeals Court Judge, Justice Isaac Dotse, advised the public to report people suspected of money laundering and financing of terrorism to the security agencies.The Paramount Chief for Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku II, advised the participants to educate the public on money laundering and terrorism.
<<Print>>