By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Oct. 9, GNA – Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has called for sustained security attention to the Western Region, given its strategic importance to Ghana’s economic development.
The Region has an extensive coastline, international land boundary with Côte d’Ivoire, natural resources, maritime infrastructure and major industrial and energy installations.
The Region’s strategic location and economic profile meant that developments there could have wider implications for national security, making it important for stakeholders to strengthen coordination and maintain a secure and stable environment.
Mr Nelson made the call at a regional stakeholders’ engagement in Takoradi on the review of the 2020 National Security Strategy.
The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), under Act 1168, had begun a comprehensive review of the 2020 National Security Strategy with regional stakeholder engagements to gather perspectives on security threats, risks, vulnerabilities and emerging concerns facing the country.
A robust national security strategy must be grounded in evidence drawn from across the country, to ensure that the revised strategy was informed by ground level knowledge, not solely by national-level assessments.
Mr Nelson however said the Western Region was not insulated from broader security concerns confronting the country, including illegal mining and its associated activities, land and chieftaincy disputes, community tensions, activities along the borders and coastline, environmental degradation, organised crime and other forms of criminality.
He said such concerns must be addressed within appropriate institutional and legal frameworks through effective coordination among institutions responsible for security, governance, justice, development and community engagement.
He emphasised the importance of timely information-sharing and appropriate institutional responses to emerging threats.
Mr Nelson also underscored the role of traditional authorities and communities in maintaining security, adding that “national security is a shared responsibility.”
Mr Nelson urged stakeholders participating in the review to contribute practical perspectives based on their experiences, particularly on prevention, preparedness, coordination, institutional capacity and community participation.
He expressed confidence that the engagement would provide useful input to the review process and contribute to a National Security Strategy that reflected Ghana’s current realities and responded appropriately to evolving security circumstances.
Dr Mohammed Bako, the Technical Advisor to the National Security Coordinator, said the stakeholder engagement would ensure that people expressed candid opinions for the necessary corrections on the new draft.
Dr Bako stressed that the Takoradi meeting was strategic as the Western Region hosted landmarks including the Takoradi Port, Western Naval Command, an airport, the gas processing plant, thermal generation enclaves and the offshore petroleum industry.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Bertha Badu-Agyei/ Christabel Addo
Reporter Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Email: [email protected]