Ghana has been on Al-kaeda's list since 1995 – Dr. Aning

A security analyst with the Kofi Annan Peace Keeping Training Center, Dr. Kwesi Aning says Ghana has been a credible terror target and has been on Al-Kaeda’s list since 1995 because of what it has been doing globally as a country.

According to Dr. Aning, Ghana’s contribution of troops to peacekeeping missions globally has become a course for concern to the terror groups who may want to harm the country.

He said “Ghana has been a target since 1995” adding that “Ghana has projected itself over the last 40 or so years as one of the most credible troop contributing countries in this world…

“Although we haven’t directly linked our peacekeeping activities to the potential that may happen in terms of terrorists targeting us, it is now becoming clear that because of what we do internationally and the reputation that we get, even an attack that is not necessarily at us would be perceived as such.”

Dr. Aning was speaking on Joy Fm and said Ghana “is the 8th or 9th most important troops contributing for peacekeeping globally and we have contributed troops to some of the most dangerous places eg. Mali, Lebanon a host of other countries.”

Threats of Ghana being a potential terror target dominated media and public space discussions in last few months has. The President, John Dramani Mahama and the Ghana Police Service have encouraged Ghanaians to be calm although the threats have even taken a spiritual dimension.

Recent attacks in the sub region have raised tensions in what some describe as causing fear and panic. Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria have been attacked by some individuals and groups with links to ISIS or Boko Haram.