National security is an aspect of the government that cannot be undermined. It is the duty of the government through the security services to ensure the safety of all citizens and persons living in the country. In a safe environment, people can go about their duties peacefully without any threats or fear for their lives. A breakdown in the security system on the other hand leaves people in a state of panic each passing day knowing that their lives are not protected.
The recent rampant killing of innocent citizens in the country is abhorrent and a huge indictment on the government and the national security services. Crimes are being committed under the watch of the police and one begins to wonder, “Where were the police?”, unfortunately, they only appear on the scenes after the crime has been carried out.
Following the assassination of private security officers and the discovery of some dead bodies in Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central, has said that the failures of the security system are a contributing factor to the recent killings in the region. He added that there is insufficient intelligence gathering by the security officers, which allows for perpetrators to commit such heinous crimes. He added that the pitfalls in the security system must be addressed to effectively overcome the issue. According to reports, about ten private security officers have been assassinated by unknown people in the region in less than a year. Dr. Pelpuo stressed the importance of intelligence in solving security problems, stating that it is not only about police officers parading the streets as is common practice in the country, but an ability to apply intelligence to combat these crimes. He said this in an interview with CitiNews.
The Way Forward
Our security officers (policemen) have gained notoriety in this country for very ‘obvious’ reasons. With the current cases of insecurity in the country, they need to be more proactive and notch up their game. It is high time the government invested in training the national security officers in the intelligence unit to enhance their work and improve security in the country. It is only when our internal security is strengthened that we will be able to fight against external attacks.
Priscilla Fumadorh
Priscilla is an entrepreneur and a creative communicator who loves to communicate through writing. She is passionate about national economic issues and does not miss a chance to offer her opinions on them for the good of the country.
It is also high time the citizenry support the police with tips and intelligence on anything they find suspicious in their vicinity. This will make the police serve the nation better