Special Forces to fight terrorism

Government has given authorisation for the Ghana Police Service to establish a special task force to combat terrorism following the recent terror attacks in the sub-region, President John Mahama has announced.

Ghana’s neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, have been attacked by terrorist groups on separate occasions in recent times.

The presence of two Yemeni ex-detainees from the notorious Guantanamo Detention Centre in Cuba, has heightened fears that Ghana may become a target for terrorist attacks.

Speaking at WASSA 2015, an annual get-together for the Ghana Police Service on Friday February 26, Mr Mahama said Ghana was not immune to attacks and, therefore, putting counter-terrorism measures in place.

“Recently al-Qaeda in the Maghreb attacked the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali. Again, very recently, you remember the attack in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.

“We cannot sit and think that Ghana is immune from the scourge of terrorism and, so, like every other country, we must be ready to confront any insurgency or hostage situation that might arise and that is why we have given authorisation for the formation of a specially prepared Special Forces, who can handle hostage situations and any other situations like that which might confront us.”