‘Al-Shabab’ fear grips MPs

Hon. Amankwah Asiamah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Fanteakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region, has bemoaned the poor security in Ghana’s Parliament which makes it vulnerable to terrorists. “Security in Parliament House is so poor and can be accessed by terrorists.

Because of this, I call on the security agencies to be on the alert to detect any signs before we are taken by surprise,” Hon. Asiamah appealed.

According to Hon. Asiamah, the poor nature of security in Parliament House has made the place accessible to ‘Kooko Aduro’ sellers, shoe sellers, as well as T-shirt sellers, who invade the premises to sell their products. “I am telling you on authority that our premises have been invaded by ‘kooko Aduro’ sellers, shoe sellers as well as T-shirt sellers. Why can’t terrorists invade there so easily?” he required.

The Fanteakwa North legislator further added that “not only do they come and sell, but also follow members around begging for money.”

Hon. Asiamah called on government to as a matter of urgency install gadgets at various public places and national asset premises to detect early signs of terrorism “in order for us not to be taken by surprise.”

He also called on the security personal at Parliament House to search and question individuals who come to the House, so as to have only those who are genuinely coming to transact parliamentary business come into the premises.

Hon. Asiamah made the above disclosure in an interview with The Enquirer newspaper, after a political discussion programme on TV Africa, dubbed “Maakye,” on the recent Al-Shabab attack on the Westage Mall in Nairobi, which killed our Ghana's Professor Kofi Awoonor.

He continued that the over 3,000 Chinese galamsayers who recently invaded our territory to engage in illegal mining should be a wake-up call to our security services. “It took the youth in this country to march the Chinese galamsayers boot-for-boot before our security officers realized and acted,” he pointed out.

This, he said, should enable the government to tighten up security in the country and be on guard to avert any eventuality, especially at our entry border points.

Prof. Kofi Awoonor, the 78-year-old former Council of State Chairman, was among 69 people confirmed dead by the Kenyan Government in a shooting spree at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, for which the Somali Islamic extremist group, Al-Shabab, claimed responsibility.