MPs to summon security capos over terrorism

A member of parliament’s Select Committee on Defence and Interior has said that the committee will invite the various heads of state security institutions to brief the house on the country’s preparedness to curb possible terror attacks.

Major Derrick Yaw Oduro (rtd) made this known in the wake of Sunday’s attack on Ivory Coast’s Grand Bassam, which killed at least 16 people with many others injured.

Al-qaeda's North African branch, known as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), claimed responsibility for the attack on L'Étoile du Sud Hôtel, a resort popular with Westerners on Sunday 13 March 2016.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, in an interview on Joy FM Monday 14 March, 2016, said authorities will have to increase public education and heighten security in the country.

According to him, “almost all the security heads are supposed to appear before the committee as soon as possible, to brief us on what to do in case of any eventualities, so we will find out how prepared Ghana is in case of any attacks.”

He proposed that the public be educated on such issues and a complete plan fashioned out to deal with any acts of aggression that may be targeted at the country.

“I am asking for national education in case of a terrorist attack. We should take a comprehensive look at the situation, so that we are not found wanting when these occurrences happen,” added the MP.

“We want government to put in place a policy to safeguard ourselves when such occurrences happen. Otherwise, if we don’t move into action immediately, who knows tomorrow, it will be the turn of Ghana and we will sustain many casualties,” he stated.

The attack on Ivory Coast is the third to be recorded in months, with Mali and Burkina Faso being victims as scores have been killed and many others wounded as a result of terror attacks.