Having critically analysed the Ministry of National Security’s press release that seek to explain what transpired between the youth of Garu and the team of five counter – terrorism intelligence officers of the National Security that triggered the joint operation by the Ghana Armed Forces and the National Security operatives to storm Garu resulting in gruesome brutality of some innocent civilians, I must say unequivocally that, this case exposes the crucial knowledge gap that hampers the fight against terrorism at the district level, and further affect the regional and national level at large.
It is imperative to state on record that, the fight against threat of terrorism in the country demands a holistic approach of cooperation by all stakeholders most importantly the citizens to ensure critical proactive intelligence from the Unit Committees level, Area Councils, Electoral Areas, Districts, Municipal or Metropolitan level, Regional level and the National at large, therefore, the critical question that, the Ministry of National Security must answer is why it deployed its personnel from the National level to enter the Garu District without the knowledge and escort of the District Chief Executive Officer who is the head of the District Security Council ( DISEC) or better still an escort by the Garu District National Security officer or any of the assembly members representing the electoral areas in the District upon shared information from National to the Regional Security Council (RESEC) which would have help to avoid the rise of anger by the youth that generated tension in their keen suspicious interest to know the identities of these officers.
In actual fact, if proper entry approach was used by the operatives clearly, there will be no need for them to attempt to explain themselves to justify their identity. Taking into account the conflict situation within the Bawku enclave coupled with the threat of terrorism level in the country, it is justifiable for the youth of Garu to be in the state of defensive reaction as they intercepted the Black Toyota land cruiser carrying sophisticated ammunitions that threatens their security. Sorry to say, if innocent citizens began to experience such joint operation brutality in their quest to go by the protocol of the National Security Ministry that, says ” If you see something, say something” a strategical slogan that was created by the Ministry to effectively ensure counter – terrorism awareness campaign in the country then indirectly the Ministry is gagging against the promotion of citizens participation in safeguarding the peace and the stability of our dear country.
Again, the Ministry claimed the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station upon escalation of arm attacks on their vehicle and by the timely intervention of the military saw the National Security personnel evacuated from the Garu Police Station. Now, what is very wired to me in this portion of the statement is that, no single youth was arrested for possess weapon whether legal or illegal at the time the military arrived at the scene in the police station in order to serve as empirical evidential support to justify why they want on with the joint operation to brutalize and allegedly seized Weapons used by the perpetrators in the attack.
As a civilised country, even though the Ministry owes it duty to protect personnel of the State Security and its Intelligence Agencies who have sworn an oath to, at all times, defend the people and the territorial integrity of the state against all forms of threats, employing the services of the milliary in internal security operation of national character has the approbation of the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Force through the National Security Council (NSC) which may be better coordinated at the strategic and operational levels unlike the locally characteristic in nature, joint military approach employed by the Ministry to infringe injury on some innocent citizens is illegal due to the fact that, assuming without admitting the youth have in their possession of Weapons such milliary operation do not have the express prior approval of the the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces through the National Security Council to sanction it.
This is an unacceptable operation and must be totally condemn. Admitted the youth have illegal weapons in their possession, such search operation is constitutionally mandated by the Ghana Police Service as the custodian of internal security to take action through court warrant to ensure law and order and not the military.
