Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has told western leaders that shutting their doors to migrants who seek entry into their countries is not the solution to winning the war against terrorism.
Terror attacks have heightened within the last few years with parts of Africa also experiencing same in the hands of Boko Haram and Al Shabaab.
Some western countries have threatened to close their borders to refugees and migrants following the surge in terror attacks.
But Addressing the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Mahama said adopting such strategy is not the best.
“No part of the world is safe. In our sub-region, the activities of Boko Haram in North Eastern Nigeria and the Chad basin has displaced millions of people and claimed thousands of casualties. Attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote D’lvoire show that all our countries are at risk. Terrorism is currently one of the gravest threats to world peace and security.”
“We cannot be under any illusions about the imminent threat to all of us even as we go about our daily activities. But the solution is not to shut our doors to foreigners who may have genuine cause for visiting- for tourism, for business, for sanctuary as refugees. That is what the terrorists would want to us to do – to instil fear and panic in order that we shut our doors on the rest of the world,” he said.
He further pledged Ghana’s solidarity with countries that have suffered from terror attacks.
“Ghana stands in solidarity with all countries that have experienced terrorism recently- Bangladesh, Belgium, France, Germany, Indonesia, Lebanon) Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Turkey and the United States of America. No! We must not give in to them. The terrorists must not win and they will not win.”
Terror threat: Gov’t sets up counter-terrorism unit
Ghana government in April 2016 set up a Counter-Terrosim Unit to ward off any terror attack on the country.
This follows report of imminent terror attacks on Ghana.
The unit, which is headed by the National Security Adviser to the President, Baba Kamara, was also been tasked to coordinate all security measures put in place to avert an attack on the country.
–
By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin