We do not doubt the efficiency of our security agents, not at all. We however, have cause to shudder when foreign criminals break through our fence to breach the law.
The story about suspected foreigners kidnapping crew of a vessel in Prampram is a development which calls for extra vigilance not only on the part of security agents but all Ghanaians. After all the security of the country is a shared responsibility.
The importance of the foregone could not have been better elaborated. Earlier some suspected Nigerian fugitives sneaked into the country and could have succeeded in proceeding hinterland but for the vigilance of some citizens.
Nothing has been heard about the outcome of the interrogation of the suspects yet especially whether they were part of the Owerri Prison jail breakers. We would rather that details of the outcome of such necessary interrogations are made public to calm our nerves.
Although our country is the safest in the West African sub-region we dare state, such pockets of security breaches call for holistic approach to security management.
Since security should be shared by the professionals with the requisite expertise and the citizenry there is the need to educate Ghanaians living in border areas and others likely to be used by seaborne criminals on what to look out for and where to report suspicious elements and their movements.
The ‘Exercise Eagle Claws’ training manouvres announced by the Ghana Armed Forces for instance billed for the northern part of the country we suggest should include a citizenry education component since it entails sharpening our troops in dealing with terrorist attacks.
We are mindful about the restricted nature of military training exercises but this nonetheless a special component can be arranged to educate the citizenry about how to render their support where necessary.
The kidnapping of the crew of a vessel in Prampram could have been noticed by some fishermen but who are helpless as they could have been just paddled away not knowing what to do.
In Tamale recently a report emerged about a kidnapping attempt. That was not the first to be reported. We are excited that the security agents have so far been on top of the incidents.
The incidents though suggest that we must be wary about foreign elements from our neighbours possibly expanding their quarries. Of course that is one of the reasons that the Defence Ministry announced sometime ago about the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOB).
We should as a people be security conscious, especially those living along beaches and areas which have already recorded the arrests of foreign criminals. These areas are considered soft grounds for such elements but for us that is a wakeup call.
The Gulf of Guinea remains a big quarry for seaborne criminals who have no regards for territorial frontiers.
Taking things for granted as we often do would not inure to our security interests.