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General News on Thursday, June 13, 2019
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2019-06-13
WANEP Executive Director Chukwuemeka Eze Disappointed by Alerts
The West African Peacebuilding Network (WANEP) finds travel notices issued by the United Kingdom and Canada against their citizens living in Ghana.
The warnings, which included warning against a possible terrorist attack that urged citizens of these countries to be vigilant during their stay in the country, left WANEP Executive Director Chukwumeka Eze disenchanted.
Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story, he said: "We have a Foreign Ministry in Ghana, a National Security Advisor, the Police, the Army … All these ways are open foreign countries to make their intentions and observations known to a particular country ".
"Every day, shots are fired in the United States, even on the streets of the United Kingdom. Yet, no African country has asked its citizens to stop traveling to such countries because of these isolated incidents … Kidnappings have taken place in Ghana. He asked.
Canada was the first to issue a travel advisory. This took place shortly after two of his citizens who participated in an exchange program in Ghana's second largest city, Kumasi, in the Ashanti region, were kidnapped.
The security alert on the website of the Canadian Embbady highlights the suburbs of Agbogbloshie, Ashaiman, Avenor, Nima, Sowutuom and Sukura. as crime – prone areas, and invites Canadians who wish to visit or are already in the country to stay away from these areas, especially at night.
On the nature of the crimes to be foreseen, it lists the pickpocketing, the thefts of handbags and the attacks of some bikers.
The warning warns Canadians to be aware of what is happening in Ghana because "violent crime such as armed robbery or kidnapping may occur".
Second alert
The United Kingdom followed with a similar warning, adding however that terrorists would be likely to carry out attacks in the country.
In addition, the alert indicated the possibility of localized demonstrations of civil unrest and indiscriminate attacks, likely to occur at short notice and likely to become violent.
"Terrorists will probably try to launch attacks in Ghana. The attacks could be blind, even in places visited by strangers. Terrorist groups badociated with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State of Libya and the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) pose a threat to the region. These groups have demonstrated their capacity and intent by stepping up attacks against security forces and civilians in a number of countries, including Burkina Faso and Mali.
"Although there have been no recent attacks in Ghana, you must remain vigilant, especially in the northern border areas and in busy public places (seaside resorts, hotels, cafes, restaurants and places of worship). across the country, "said the alarm. The UK government website said.
These warnings to the executive director of WANEP are totally unfair to Ghana.
He does not think that in terms of bilateral relations, foreign missions in Ghana and Africa, in general, serve the continent.
"Because when you make such statements, regardless of their realism, you also try to tarnish the image of a country and affect its foreign investments. These things go as a perception index, "said Eze.
He wondered why, even though the alerts were real, these countries were not exploring the available channels of communication to make their discoveries known, but instead had chosen to announce them in the way they had done so. .
For him, Ghana and Africa must begin to question the sincerity of the objectives of some of the countries with which they deal.
"I am very disappointed with the way these countries have been approached," he added.
The safest country of Ghana in West Africa?
Eze does not disagree with President Akufo-Addo's comment that Ghana is the safest country in West Africa during its trip to Guyana.
Although there are no recent statistics, "the president might be right if he used a comparative badysis of events in the subregion concerning Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger and some other countries. "
When he is examined on the basis of electoral processes, ethnic tensions, armed robbery, crime and crime, he believes that, apart from Cape Verde and Senegal, Ghana can be clbadified as a peaceful country in the region.
According to him, the comment of the president was to rebadure the public, which will do any other head of state.
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