Citizen complicity, threatens Ghana’s security – Major General Ba-Taa-Banah warns

Major General Tim Ba-Taa-Banah, Director of Ghana's National Counterterrorism Fusion Centre, has warned that citizens enabling criminal activities pose the most significant threat to the country's security. He explained that citizens, whether intentionally or unintentionally, could help criminals by providing them with housing, transportation, or other forms of assistance, which undermines the efforts of security agencies in preventing and combating crime.

He emphasized that citizens were the "enemy within," involved in the planning, execution, and protection of criminal acts.

During a National Dialogue held in Accra, the Director emphasized the need for citizens to report suspicious activities to security agencies or traditional authorities, highlighting the importance of traditional leaders in maintaining peace and stability. He also called for continuous public education and initiatives to encourage the voluntary surrender of unlicensed weapons, as their misuse has contributed to conflicts in West Africa.

The dialogue, organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aimed to discuss sustaining post-election peace and strengthening community resilience against emerging security threats in Southern Border Communities of Ghana. Participants included security agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, community groups, students, and other stakeholders.

The event's Chairperson, Ms. Kathleen Addy, emphasized that while Ghana is a peaceful and stable democracy, it cannot afford to take its peace and security for granted. She called for a nationwide approach to security interventions, warning that southern and coastal communities are also exposed to emerging threats such as violent extremism, narcotics, cross-border crime, and disinformation.