By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, Oct. 02, GNA – Mr. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Minister for the Interior, has called for enhanced cooperation and information sharing among security institutions and local authorities to identify and address emerging security threats.
He said effective security management required closer collaboration among the various security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, religious leaders, community groups, businesses, youth organizations and civil society actors.
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak made the call in Kumasi at a capacity-building workshop for members of the Ashanti Regional and District Security Councils on the Security and Intelligence Act, 2026 (Act 1168).
He said the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), as the foremost representatives of government at the local level, were strategically positioned to identify early indicators of instability because of their close interaction with communities and local stakeholders.
The Minister therefore urged the MMDCEs to strengthen their engagement with security agencies within their jurisdictions and share relevant information to support early warning and response mechanisms.
He challenged them to visit and engage directly with institutions such as the Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and intelligence agencies to understand their operations and the security situations within their respective districts.
“Critical pillar of the new security architecture is the promotion of enhanced cooperation and information sharing among the institutions,” he said.
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak said security agencies had access to critical information on developments in communities, markets and streets, but local authorities needed to establish closer working relationships with them to benefit from such intelligence.
He said the Ashanti Region’s strategic importance as one of Ghana’s major commercial, industrial and transportation centers made effective security management particularly important to the national economy.
He said economic growth and rapid urbanization must therefore be accompanied by robust governance, effective security management, and stronger community resilience.
The Minister identified illegal mining, organised crime, illicit trafficking, land disputes, chieftaincy conflicts and other emerging security threats as challenges requiring coordinated responses involving intelligence, law enforcement, community participation and effective local governance.
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak expressed particular concern about illegal mining in the Ashanti Region and urged local authorities to understand the actors involved and share information with the relevant security institutions.
He said stronger collaboration between local authorities and security institutions would help close information gaps and improve the country’s capacity to prevent and respond to security threats.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Bertha Badu-Agyei/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]