The danger in joining security convoys uninvited

I write for the benefit of many of our drivers, most of whom sadly are security officers who should know better but follow convoys, when they find themselves trapped in traffic.

To those individuals - secu cum intel ‘illiterates’ - it is a great risk to join a proceeding convoy uninvited and to refuse to stop when you are ordered to.

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Most Ghanaian drivers, in my estimation, are secu cum intel ‘illiterates’, who join convoys with no idea about where they are from or heading to.

They have no idea the risks they take, putting themselves and other occupants of their vehicles, as well as the convoy, in danger. They could be mistaken for an "enemy on pursuit," and could be shot.

Convoys are groups of vehicles that travel together from one point to another, typically accompanied by armed troops, or other vehicles, for protection.

When these armed troops feel threatened by the presence of "alien or uninvited vehicles," especially those who refuse to stop when they are ordered to, they could open fire in pre-emptive self-defence and the protection of their VVIP occupant, as well as the entire convoy, which is their primary responsibility and the reason why they are part of the convoy.

To that end, “secu cum intel” terminologies require explanation here. These terms are: self defence and preemptive attack.

A preemptive attack is one that is commenced in an attempt to repel or defeat a perceived imminent offensive by an enemy to gain a strategic advantage before that attack materialises. It pre-emptively repels an attack. It is also a military term by which an individual or state claims the right to launch an offensive on a potential enemy before he or she has the chance to carry out an attack. In war studies, it is referred to as "Jus Cogens."

Jus Cogens is a fundamental principle of international law that is accepted by the international community of states as a norm from which no derogation is permitted.

Self-defence on the other hand is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself and or a team, in this case a convoy and the VVIP from imminent danger.

It involves the use of self-defence countermeasures as a legal justification for the use of force and arms in times of danger, which is available in many jurisdictions.

There are essentially four elements required for self-defence to be justified and this can be found when uninvited vehicles on pursuit of a proceeding convoy refuses to stop.

They are (1) an unprovoked attack (2) which threatens imminent injury or death, and (3) an objectively reasonable degree of force, used in response to (4) an objectively reasonable fear of injury or death.

It is important to establish that any proceeding convoy that feels or perceives observable danger from an imminent attack or "planned accident" reserves the right to take the necessary steps to protect the VVIP (principal) and the entire convoy.

Those ignorant of this should take note.