Help fight terrorism – Italian PM to Ghana

Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, has urged Ghanaian leaders to intensify efforts in fighting terrorism, which has become a global threat to countries across the globe.

Mr Renzi said the country should be concerned in finding an “antidote” to the many atrocities perpetrated by terrorists, and work together with international partners like Italy, to find solutions “against terrorism and the violence of those, who want to destroy our values, including those of compassion, inclusion, and unity”.

He condemned recent coordinated attacks in several European countries by terror groups and noted that efforts should be made to stop barbaric acts, as witnessed in Africa and Europe, “in churches, mosques, universities, on the streets, in restaurants, in theatres, as it happened a few weeks ago in Paris”.

Africa has not been spared the terror attacks. Al-Qaeda militants recently bombed a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso, a country bordering Ghana to the north, in January 2016. The assault left at least 28 people from 18 countries killed, with several others wounded.

Several other attacks have been launched by various Islamist fundamentalist groups including al–Shabaab and Boko Haram in Kenya and Nigeria, respectively, leading to the deaths of over 1000 people in recent years.

Mr Renzi, who was addressing Ghana’s parliament on Tuesday 2 February, 2016, as part of a two-day working visit, commended Ghana for its contribution of military personnel and resources towards peacekeeping missions in several countries around the globe.

He is expected to hold bilateral talks with Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama on other development projects.