The Ministry for National Security is set to roll out an exercise dubbed “Exercise Home Shield” as part of measures to foil potential threats of terrorism in the country.
The Ministry is undertaking the exercise with support from other state security agencies.
It explained that the exercise is to prepare the country against any potential threats posed by terrorists.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0HKGiBKOjYpvaQeiiCDQkJmy8P2iMakx”]Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, the Director of Counter-terrorism at the Ministry for National Security, COP George Asiamah, said threats posed by terrorism require proactive state measures hence the exercise.
Although he said Ghana has not experienced such attacks internally, “some regional, global trends and recent incidents in the neighbouring states gives serious cause for concern.”
“These threats and trends have necessitated for a holistic approach to preventing acts of terrorism. Terrorist acts culminate in crisis situations requiring a multi-agency response including strategies beyond conventional warfare to make us combat ready and ever prepared to combat terrorist threats. To this end therefore, we are going to embark on a security exercise coded Exercise Home Shield,” COP Asiamah added.
COP Asiamah further explained that, the ‘Exercise Home Shield’ will among other things include a simulation of terror attacks to assess how prepared the country’s security agencies are to handling such situations.
“This is a simulation exercise to mimic real life professional scenarios for an objective assessment of capabilities of counter-terrorism response agencies. In a nutshell, it is a form of rehearsal to sharpen our capabilities to respond to terrorist attacks and to recover from it,” he added.
Canada, UK issues terror attack alert in Ghana
The Canadian and US governments had recently issued terror alert to its citizens traveling to Ghana.
“There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist targets could include shopping malls, government buildings, public areas such as bars, restaurants, hotels and sites frequented by Westerners. Be aware of your surroundings in public places,” a notice posted by the Canadian government in August added.
Man arrested for false terror alert at Accra Mall
The Ghana Police on November 3, 2017, arrested a 30-year-old suspect in connection with a false terrorist attack alert at the Accra Mall.
“The suspect was arrested in his hideout at Offinso in the Ashanti Region on 1st November, 2017, and is currently assisting Police in investigations,” the Police said in a statement.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin