Ghana announces its readiness for Boko Haram surprise attack

The Ghanaian Interior Ministry has said that the country is ready to combat any surprise attack by the Nigerian militant group, Boko Haram in any part of the country. Independent security experts have rumored that some Boko Haram fighters might have been on Ghana’s soil this month. To add to this, the French embassy was said to be on high terror alert on Tuesday following deadly protests in Niger over new cartoons published by the French satirical magazine-Charlie Hebdo. It is unclear whether the French intelligence has something to do with eminent Boko Haram attack in Ghana.

Speaking on local radio-Adom Fm in Accra on Wednesday, Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo said the security services are working hard to block Boko Haram both in weapons and any illicit financial transactions that might benefit the group. The UK and the US have already blocked any financial transactions by Boko Haram with their financial institutions. Mr. Woyongo said a lot of counter-terrorism measures have been put in place, urging citizens to be security conscious and report any suspicious persons or movement to the Police without any delay.

"We need to prepare for a bad day, we are not leaving anything to chance and it’s not as if we are taking things for granted, we are appealing to all citizens to help prevent these terrorists from entering the country’’, he said. Earlier this month, Police in the Eastern Region of Ghana arrested some 12 young men who were alleged to have formed a group calling it Boko Haram to terrorize residents in the area. They have since been put before court.

In the last regional block meeting held in Ghana, leaders in the West African sub-region were worried about the spreading of the activities of Boko Haram. Boko Haram is currently causing havoc in Cameroon but the country’s security forces are not giving them a breathing space. The regional block therefore agreed unanimously this week to seek the approval of the African Union to create a multi-national force to fight the militants. Chad and Cameroon have already taken a lead role.

Boko Haram sparked an international outrage last year when it abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in Borno State. The group has killed thousands of people and displaced many in the mainly north of Nigeria. The Nigerian military has woefully failed to defend civilians against the militants’ frequent attacks. It has therefore allowed Boko Haram to consolidate its territorial annexation for an Islamic Caliphate State.

The United States intelligence report on Boko Haram in May 2014 said there is no indication of the group in Ghana but did warned the security service not to be complacent. Boko Haram six-year insurgency has intensified this year. The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said Boko Haram killed more than 4,000 civilians last year. Boko Haram which means "Western education is forbidden" sees schools and colleges as a symbol of Western culture. It has vowed to eradicate such institutions and create an Islamic state in the north of the country.