Could lawlessness on roads in Ghana be exploited by terrorists?

By Kofi Thompson

The phrase "Ghanaians don't like following laws and regulations" is one that is often heard, when blatant examples of law-breaking leads to some mishap or tragedy.

Most Ghanaians have seen and heard television and radio news reports of suicide bombers using motorcycles and vehicles to kill and maim scores of people in places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The fact that that terrible tactic employed by terrorists elsewhere, could be employed here too, is one of the reasons why the authorities in Ghana must move quickly to bring to an end, the use of unregistered motorcycles and vehicles, on roads across the country.

Even on weekends, one sees unregistered vehicles with Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) trade plates - used to move such vehicles from one point to another, especially when cleared from the ports and land entry points at our borders - being used to attend funerals in cities, towns and villages around Ghana, by their occupants, who invariably number more than two: something that the law frowns on.

Terrorist organisations looking for a soft spot in Ghana's underbelly, are bound to exploit such egregious examples of lawlessness on roads in Ghana.

The Ghanaian media must help the security agencies to bring this outrageous practice to an end.

Were radio and television stations in Ghana to constantly point out the possible dangers posed to national security by such law-breaking on our roads, perhaps it would make the general public more aware of the dangers they pose to all Ghanaians: and elicit their support in bringing it swiftly to an end. A word to the wise...