The Progressive Nationalist Forum is getting increasingly worried with the security situation in Ghana. Over the past month, there have been several cases of inter ethnic, religious, chieftaincy and land related violence and near war situations.
The cases of Bunkrugu, Mion, Yendi all in the north, two other communities in the Upper East, the recent cases in the Central Region and the just reported case of religious violence in the Volta region are worrisome.
In an election year, the propensity for such instances to degenerate into full scale war situations should not be under estimated. However, responses and reactions from state agencies and institutions such as the Police, BNI and National Security, indicate that these agencies are not on top of the issue.
Credible Information reaching PNF indicates that Mion, a suburb of Yendi is on the verge of war with Sang a neighbouring community over the sighting of the newly created district capital at Sang instead of at Mion in accordance with traditional authority of the area. Dates have been given as to when war maybe waged. However, there is no preparation on the grounds to avert a bloodbath. We find this alarming.
The intelligence gathering system of these state institutions are either too poor or someone is simply not acting on the intelligence gathered. Our state agencies must be more proactive than reactive for once to save property and lives.
We have also observed that the media, in most cases have misreported, miscued or misrepresented their reportage to the extent that simple criminal acts are reported in such a manner to give ethnic, religious and political connotations thereby giving these common criminals a refuge.
The greatest responsibility however, is on the President of the Republic of Ghana who has remained silent over most of these cases of violent clashes. The President also seems to have vacated his post as the commander in chief of the Ghana armed forces.
We call on the President to act with alacrity and take control of our national security to avert any disaster in this election year. The conflict spots in Ghana are becoming too many and will easily spread to engulf the entire nation if we don’t act now.
The negative effects of these situations on the economy and the depreciation of the cedi cannot be over stated as it adds to the speculation of the stability of the country and therefore the economy.
Signed
Richard Nyamah
Fred Amankwa Sarfo