Africa-Press – Ghana. There are concerns regarding the ability of the Regional and District Security Councils to effectively prevent early warning signs and possible violent extremism threats.
According to some citizens and security experts, the security implications could be dire should government fail to properly implement the Security, and Intelligence Agencies Act 2020 (1030).
The law passed in 2020 requires the appointment of three ordinary community members to serve on Regional and District Security Councils to improve community knowledge and information gathering.
Security Expert and Team Lead of Coginta Ghana, Reverend Father Clement Aapengnuo, in an interview, urged the National Security Ministry to see to the full implementation of the Act.
“The Securities and Intelligence Agencies Act 2020, (Act 1030) undoubtedly is a very good strategic document which requires the various assemblies to see to its implementation”
He added that the full implementation will broaden the scope in identifying early warning signs of a likelihood security threat of violence extremists groups and individuals.
“The Act for instance talks about the appointment of some three other members including a woman from members of the society. The burden lies on the regional Minister’s and DCE’s to select people from the community who can make very meaningful contributions to the security of the area because at the end of the day, if there is insecurity it affects all of us.”
Background
Coginta Ghana has been implementing the NORPREVSEC programme funded by the European Union (EU).
The Act, relating to the National Security Council, is to provide for the establishment of Regional and District Security Councils.
It also enjoins the chairpersons of both the Regional and District Security Councils to appoint three other members of the society to the Council who would be approved by the National Security Ministry.
Their function is to provide early warning signals to the Government regarding the existence or likelihood of a security threat to the district or the country as a whole.
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