Ghana Parliament summons security heads to discuss readiness for possible terror attacks

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior has summoned the heads of the various security agencies to appear before it to tell the nation of its preparedness for any terrorist incursion into the country.

The meeting, which would apparently be in camera, has become necessary in the wake of recent attacks in neighbouring La Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, all within the West African Sub region.

Terrorists on Sunday, March 13, attacked holiday makers at a beach resort in Grand Bassam in Cote d’Ivoire, killing 16 people including expatriates and injuring many others.

Some media reports have suggested the Al-Qaeda, in the Magreb, is responsible for the attacks, thus sparking fears that terrorist are making inroads to countries in West Africa.

Mr Fritz Baffour, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, told reporters in Parliament that the security heads would be meeting the Committee, at a yet to be decided date.

The Ghana News Agency’s investigations, in and outside Parliament, have showed that both the lawmakers and other citizens are worried about the incident in the neighbouring countries. Some wonder how the security agencies would act with swiftness to prevent the loss of lives and property in case of any unexpected attack.

Additionally, some local security experts have raised the alarm that some external aggressors may have entered the country with spurious motives, and they have, consequently, asked the national security apparatus to be on the alert to handle any such occurrence.

Such attacks often take place at where a lot of people, mostly expatriates, are gathered, such as shopping malls, places of large celebrations, markets and beach resorts.

Source: GNA