Northern Ghana not being used by militants, ignore claims – Prof Aning

Professor Kwasi Aning, a security analyst, has expressed doubts about a recent Reuters report that said Islamist militants from Burkina Faso are using areas of northern Ghana to provide medical and logistical support.

According to the study, Burkina Faso militants have been entering northern Ghana with little intervention from Ghanaian authorities in order to obtain supplies including food, petrol, and medical attention for wounded combatants.

Unnamed Ghanaian security officers and regional diplomats were mentioned by Reuters as the sources for these allegations.

But in a Citi News interview, Prof. Aning rejected the study, arguing that it should be regarded cautiously and not taken at face value.

He underlined how crucial it is to base security assessments on accurate information, especially in light of the region's complicated dynamics.

“Let’s not allow people to sit in the comfort of their homes and offices and write stories about us. Then we suddenly believe and suddenly want to spend a lot of time on it. I have travelled to those places and have stayed with people along the border, I have listened to them talk and have questioned them about extremists in their towns, and they looked at me as if I was a madman whether I think they would destroy the livelihoods they have built for themselves," a report by citinewsroom.com said.

Prof. Aning added: “I think this story must be discarded with the disgust and contempt it deserves. People make up stories because they want to see their names appear in the newspapers…This is not worth the paper it is printed on.”

KA

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