The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security on the 5th of May, 2022 participated in a forum on Governance and Security organized by Crossfire Think Tank Ghana@Ebenezer Hall, Osu- Accra. The main speaker for the occasion Honourable Akwasi Oppong-Fosu former Member of Parliament for Amenfi East and Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in the erstwhile Mahama government touched on the need to promote transformational politics rather than transactional politics which does not promote good democratic governance but breeds corruption. On his part, Dr. Sadiq Adu-Twum who represented IISS spoke on the impact of transactional (monetization) politics on the security architecture of Ghana and made a humble appeal to the political parties to see the need to project a democratic system that is more accountable, transparent and equitable to the people thereby enhancing and deepening the peace Ghana currently enjoys within the sub-region. Lawyer Kweku Mortey former Director of Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) stressed the need for to revisit the lost values once upheld as a nation that guaranteed patriotism and ensured sanity in society, not politics of materialism and self-aggrandizement. The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security continues to engage and offer supreme knowledge within the Intelligence and Security Community to promote secure and safe communities for socio-economic development of the country. Photo Credit: Crossfire Think Tank Ghana.
Ghana not immune to terrorist attacks – NIB
Mr. George Asare, North-East Regional Commander, National Intelligence Bureau, says Ghana is not immune to terrorism and violent extremism and needs to adopt measures to protect the country’s prevailing peace and democracy. He called on the government and major stakeholders to work collectively to address issues that give rise to the formation of terrorist groups and support the security agencies to protect the country’s territory. Mr. George Asare, North-East Regional Commander, National Intelligence Bureau, says Ghana is not immune to terrorism and violent extremism and needs to adopt measures to protect the country’s prevailing peace and democracy. He called on the government and major stakeholders to work collectively to address issues that give rise to the formation of terrorist groups and support the security agencies to protect the country’s territory. Mr. Asare said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a symposium on preventing violent extremism organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Gambaga, East Mamprusi Municipality. The Regional Commander said almost all the neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, had experienced various forms of attacks, which put Ghana at risk. “The communities around us have all been attacked and it has even led to a coup in Burkina Faso because the government’s attention was on extremists while other people were acting just like it happened in Mali,” he added. He identified economic hardships, marginalisation, and political exclusion as major factors that drive the youth to join violent groups and destabilise countries.He urged the government and major stakeholders to address the concerns of Ghanaians to avert any such incidents in the country. Mr. Asare noted that Ghana’s borders were also a major concern and urged the citizenry to be vigilant and report suspicious characters in their respective communities for investigation and action. Mr. Wilberforce Zangina, North-East Regional Director, NCCE, stated that violent extremism in neighbouring countries was a worrying phenomenon for peace and national cohesion. Mr. Zangina admonished the youth to resist mouth-watering offers to join groups that tended to destabilise the country. “It is the women, children, and the marginalised who suffer most when there is violence and government spends huge sums of money on security agencies instead of undertaking development projects,” he added. The symposium was part of the activities of the Commission with funding support from the European Union to implement a project dubbed, “preventing electoral violence and providing security to the Northern Borders of Ghana (NORPREVSEC). It is aimed at educating Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to refrain from being candidates of violent extremism and rather support playing watchdog roles in their communities to flush out criminals. It is also meant to fight transnational organised crimes and promote respect for human rights and the rule of law by identifying early warning signals and reporting the same to the security services. Source: GhanaWeb
Our approach to National Security is taking a paradigm shift
Minister for National Security The Minister for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah has indicated that there is a shift in how national security is conducted, with the coming into being of the National Security Policy that embraces all segments of society towards safeguarding peace and security. He observed that issues such as human security, climate change and health were key national security issues. Mr. Kan Dapaah made these observations at a security briefing by a team of security experts currently conducting Assessment of State of Ghana’s Security. The presentation of findings of a study on State and Societal Security was conducted by Principal Investigator, Dr. Ishmael Norman and Co-Principal Investigator Mr. Moses Jatuat. Present at the briefing was Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, Mr. Edward Asomani, Technical Director at the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Ben Dere and a team of experts from the ministry. Findings bothered on issues such as Personal and Community Security, Emergency and Medical Response, Security Vulnerabilities, National capability to respond to threats such as terrorism and violent crimes including armed robberies, kidnapping, rape etc. The team of experts from the Ministry of National Security led by the Hon.Minister expressed satisfaction with the project as findings will help in the Ministry’s plans and strategies in safeguarding peace and security of the country. The Minister called for close collaboration with the Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security led by Mr. Jatuat and Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies led by Dr. Norman to conduct yearly security assessment as a way of providing the Ministry effective feedback to support in security planning and response to security threats. On his part, Principal Investigator, Dr. Ishmael Norman assured the minister of the Project’s commitment to supporting the ministry in bridging the gap between security managers and the population by providing useful perspective of citizen appreciation of security. Source: IISS Communication Bureau
Review security arrangements for VVIPs – Security Analyst
A Security Analyst and Director of the Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security, Moses Jatuat has called on the Ministry of National Security to revise the security arrangements for high-profile personalities in the country. In an interview with A1 Radio, he noted that the National Security Council Secretariat should establish an elite unit comprising highly trained police and NIB operatives to provide security rather than the use of the military. The Director cited the case of the US where such function was performed by the Secret Service. He however cautioned the excessive use of the military in internal affairs, noting that the current security atmosphere required the military to put on operational readiness to respond to external threats and support civil authorities such as police and other law enforcement agencies when necessary. Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1|Ghana
Dissemination of findings of cross-sectional study to access state and societal security in Ghana
Osinbajo canvasses data-driven, analytical culture for security, intelligence agencies
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies must adopt a culture that is empirical, data-driven, analytical and defined by forensic rigour. The vice president made this submission on Saturday in his address at the graduation Ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 14, 2021 of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja. Osinbajo, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said it had become imperative to reinvent the institutional culture of Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies. He tasked the intelligence community to be proactive, adopt the use of imagination and leverage technology in reacting to threats. “It is the unpredictable events that we must be prepared for; we must try especially because we have been given the responsibility to think ahead of a nation of this size and of this complexity; it falls upon our lives to plan ahead and to be imaginative. “It is not enough for intelligence services to anticipate the threat that we have a clear line of sight to; indeed, given the resource constraint that we face, we cannot afford to wait for the threat to become manifest dangers before we react. “Our intelligence services must be proactive rather than reactive; ahead of the curve, rather than behind it, threats must be identified and addressed well before they evolve into manifest spheres. “It is a very heavy burden indeed; but the truth is that the intelligence community, by the very nature of its mandate, is charged with being several steps ahead of the rest of us. “This requires a high capacity for imagination; in fact, I will go so far as to say that, in many respects, a failure of intelligence is a failure of imagination.’’ According to him, if there is any gift or skill that should define the intelligence officer of this new age, it is imagination. He said that being able to think in terms of multiple opportunities, alternative scenarios, variables and possibilities were critical for an intelligence officer. “Imagination is also a function of what you read; what you listen to; what are you reading right now? Have you read the latest books on the dark web or the activities of global criminal networks? “Are you intensely, constantly acquainting yourself with the most up to date thinking and knowledge in the security sector? “The knowledge economy and information age is characterised by constant innovation and it is moving swiftly; it is so fluid that conventional wisdom is becoming obsolete every single day. “The security and intelligence sector is not exempt from all the dynamics that face our world day.’’ Osinbajo said that the point of constant learning was not only to keep in touch with current trends in the space but also to enhance abilities and capacities to identify the threats that lied beyond the horizon. “But I must say that perhaps the most critical area is that we must reinvent the institutional culture of our security and intelligence agencies. “ Our security and intelligence agencies must adopt a culture that is empirical, data-driven, analytical and defined by forensic rhythm. “Above all, we must emphasise inter-agency collaboration and synergy; this is absolutely important; we are as good as the synergy between all of the agencies—law enforcement agencies of government, security agencies of government; we are as good as that synergy.’’ The vice president said that the administration had not shied away from investing in the security and intelligence sector. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved a supplementary budget to meet the special needs of security and intelligence agencies. “ In May this year, arising from the deliberations of the National Security Council, the president established the committee on Needs and Assessment of National Security Requirement and he mandated that committee to look at all of the special needs of defence, security and intelligence agencies in the light of the current challenges and to recommend options for containment. “The president personally handpicked the membership of that committee and which had representations from the military, the police, the security and intelligence agencies and he asked me to chair it. “As a result of the work of the committee, the president signed the supplementary budget to the tune of N802 billion for the military, security and intelligence agencies and for their special needs. “This was in keeping with his commitment, since the onset of his administration, that he will ensure that those charged with keeping Nigeria safe, are adequately equipped for the job,’’ he said. In her remarks, the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, said the ceremony came at a time Nigeria was in dire need of high profile security personnel in tackling its security challenges. Earlier in an address, Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General, State Services, congratulated the graduands describing them as change agents. Bichi urged them do everything possible to reverse the current security challenges confronting the nation. The high points of the event were the conferment of Fellow of the Security Institute (FSI) on the 66 graduands and the presentation of certificates and awards to outstanding participants.(NAN) Source: vanguardngr.com
Ghana’s parliament building a disrespectful society – Security analyst
A security analyst has suggested that the actions and inactions of the eighth parliament are fast pushing the nation into a state of lawlessness. According to Mr. Sadick Adu Twum, Ghana is a country governed by the rule of law but the current parliament is not behaving in that direction. “Parliament is gradually building a disrespectful society,” Mr. Twum said. He made this comment on Accra100.5FM’s morning show Ghana Yensom on Thursday, 2 December 2021, hosted by Kwame Appiah Kubi, during a discussion on the 2022 budget stalemate. He said what is happening in parliament suggests there is no control in the political system, adding that it can push a few unscrupulous personalities to take advantage of the situation. “As it stands now, parliament feels it is a master of its own rules and does not respect the sanctioning regime,” he said, adding, “This is dangerous for the country’s democracy. “Parliament is preparing the nation to a state of lawlessness; if care is not taken, it will prepare the grounds for some civil unrest in the country,” he warned. “Parliamentarians need to be careful because they are preparing the minds of their constituents to rise up against their actions,” he emphasised. Source: GhanaWeb
NR: Auditor General’s report on missing AK 47s extremely worrying – Security Analyst
Security Analyst, Mr. Moses Jantuat has expressed worry about the loss of 5 AK 47 rifles and 100 rounds of ammunition as reported by the 2020 Auditor General’s report. Mr Jantuat said he was surprised that the Police had not been able to provide justifiable reasons for the loss of the arms and ammunitions. He said the situation calls for worry as criminal suspects have in the past confessed having obtained weapons from their criminal counterparts within the police. Speaking to Samuel Mbura on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East, Mr. Jantuat called on the Police Administration to conduct quick investigations into the matter and present its findings. According to Mr. Jantuat, the Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has constantly drawn the attention of the public to the increasing number of illicit weapons in the hands of members of the public and said that issues like these should not be taken lightly. “Due to the strict mechanisms in the handling of arms and ammunition at the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies, it is why it is surprising to some of us that Northern Regional Police Command has not been able to resolve this issue until it was discovered by the auditor general”. “We are alarmed by the findings. The Armorer-General issues guidelines to all armouries in the country, on issuing and the receipts of weapons and ammunition before officers are deployed for operations,” he explained. Background Five AK-47 rifles and 100 rounds of ammunition are missing from the armoury of the Tamale Police Station; this is according to the Auditor-General’s report. The non-existence of the arms and ammunitions was discovered by Auditors when they inspected the armoury. There was no information as to the whereabouts of these rifles. Sources say, the rifles and the ammunition were issued to officers as part of Operation Calm Life, but have not been returned. On February 5, 2018, government launched ‘Operation Calm Life’ to combat criminal activities in the Northern Region. About 300 security personnel were drawn from all the law enforcement agencies and put together for the initiative. The move is to augment the patrols of security personnel in the wake of armed robbery attacks, political vigilantism, as well as chieftaincy and land disputes in the area. The armourer told auditors that management had referred the case to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigation. However, as at the time of the audit in August, 2020, the CID could not provide the audit team with the status of the investigation being carried out to ensure the successful retrieval of the rifles. The auditors directed the Regional Police administration to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation and mete out sanctions where appropriate
Reverse name of NIB to BNI – Security Analyst
Director of the Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security, Mr. Moses Jatuat has called for the immediate reversal of the nomenclature of the erstwhile Bureau of National Investigation. His calls come on the back of newspaper publication about alleged compromise of security information through mistaken delivery of official documents meant for the intelligence agency to National Investment Bank (NIB) which shares the same acronym as the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). According to a report by Day Break newspaper, documents meant for the National Intelligence Bureau which is Ghana’s internal intelligence agency are wrongly sent to the National Investment Bank since the public is yet to come to terms with the name change of the Intelligence Agency which came into being as result of enactment of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030). The new Act changed the name of the agency from Bureau of National Investigation to National Intelligence Bureau. This Mr. Jatuat observes, raises serious concerns about security of sensitive information and intelligence bothering on national security, and called for immediate steps to restore the old nomenclature (BNI). Explaining further, the Intelligence specialist indicated the current law (Act 1030) only sort to change the word ‘Investigation’ to ‘Intelligence’ and questions the rationale for changing the entire nomenclature from BNI to NIB when there has not been substantial change to the name of the Bureau. While describing the move as needless, Mr. Jatuat rather charged the National Security Council and Ministry of National Security to invest adequately in improving the intelligence capability of the Bureau by equipping it with modern communication and intelligence gathering logistics and required human resource to effectively carry out its mandate of providing the needed intelligence to counter threats to national security of the Republic. Source: IISS Communication Bureau (www.iissgh.org)
IISS Press Release – Re-Designate National Intelligence Bureau As Bureau Of National Intelligence
November 15, 2021 Press release RE-DESIGNATE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU AS BUREAU OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security has taken keen note of news publication regarding alleged compromise of security information as a result of change in nomenclature of the erstwhile Bureau of National Investigation and accordingly calls for reversal of the old acronym, BNI. 1. News report by Day Break newspaper indicates as a result of the redesignation of the nation’s internal intelligence agency as National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) which bears same acronym with National Investment Bank (NIB), the public is yet to come to terms with the new name, and that official documents meant for the intelligence agency are mistakenly sent to the National Investment Bank. 2. IISS particularly observes that the confusion is avoidable since the redesignation of the BNI to NIB adds no value. It notes that the recently enacted Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) only sort to change the word ‘Investigation’ to ‘Intelligence’ whereby the new name will have been Bureau of National Intelligence, maintaining the old acronym BNI. 3. It is also worthy of note that, the IISS raised concerns during the consideration of the bill to repeal Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act 526) and replace it with Act 1030, in which the bill sort to remove the word ‘Investigation’ in the nomenclature of the Intelligence Agency. 4. For instance in the memorandum accompanying the bill, the justification for the replacement of ‘Investigation’ with ‘Intelligence’ was to portray the agency as one concerned with intelligence related activities, which in the assessment of the Institute was a misplaced priority since public perception and/or appreciation of the functions of the Bureau as an intelligence agency lie in the proper conduct and exercise of the mandate of the agency and its personnel. 5. The renowned Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of US, analogous to Bureau of National Investigation is a key agency of the US intelligence community responsible for domestic intelligence. By virtue of its name, the critical mandate of the FBI as US main internal intelligence agency has not been lost on the agency. 6. Following the September 11th terrorist attack upon the US and the subsequent setting up of a Commission of Enquiry (9/11 Commission), the Commission did not recommend name change but recommended structural and institutional reforms strengthen the FBI and the US intelligence community to adequately counter threats to US national security. 7. The Government’s initiative through the Ministry of National Security to review Act 526 which had been without amendment since 1996 was also in line with restructuring the Ghanaian intelligence community to meet demands of contemporary threats to internal and external security of Ghana. 8. The Institute however continues to state its clear position that the justification for change in name of the Bureau of National Investigation to National Intelligence Bureau is a highly misplaced priority, in that the Ghanaian public are much appreciative of the work of the Bureau as an intelligence agency and can clearly distinguish between the Bureau and Police as an investigating agency. 9. Granted that, the purpose of the new name was to portray the Bureau as an intelligence agency rather than an investigation body, the replacement of the word ‘Investigation’ with ‘Intelligence’ is sufficient and nomenclature should have remained BNI (Bureau of National Intelligence) rather than National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), a situation that has become a subject of confusion with serious implications for integrity of security information belonging to the Bureau. 10. IISS further re-iterates its earlier position that, in the face of new and emerging threats to national security, such as terrorism and violent extremism, political vigilantism, transnational organized crimes and climate change, the focus of any reforms should be investment in improvement of the intelligence capability of the nation. 11. The Bureau and other elements of the intelligence community such as the Research Department, Department of Defence Intelligence of Ghana Armed Forces, Financial Intelligence Centre, Narcotics Control Commission and the Police Intelligence Directorate should be adequately equipped with modern communication, surveillance and intelligence gathering equipment and logistics for the effective and efficient discharge of their collective constitutional mandate of protecting and defending the sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Ghana. 12. There is also the need to strengthen recruitment systems and procedures to ensure only qualified, dedicated and loyal citizens are recruited into the Bureau and other intelligence agencies. Signed Moses Jatuat DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR INTELLIGENCE AND STRATEGIC SECURITY ACCRA-GHANA
