PRESIDENT MAHAMA’S NATIONAL SECURITY LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) commends His Excellency President John MAHAMA for swiftly constituting his national security team, first the interim National Security Co-ordinating Committee appointed for the transition period, and the subsequent appointment of substantive National Security Advisor, National Security Co-ordinator, Director-General Bureau of National Intelligence, Director Security Operations at the Presidency and ministers for Defence, Interior, Foreign Affairs and Attorney General. IISS, in its preliminary assessment of the appointments applauds the President for recognizing the need for high level expertise, experience and competence for the management of national security, and in particular the re-instatement of time-tested established standards in appointment of officials for national security management. The Institute assesses the team as solid and professional and meets the technical and professional requirements needed to manage Ghana’s national security. IISS however, observes that the appointment of a serving police officer as National Security Co-ordinator while the officer remains in service of the police which is under the command and control of the Inspector-General of Police is an anomaly, in view of Ghana’s unified national security hierarchical and command structure which is a critical feature of Ghana’s national security architecture. IISS views this development as having potential to undermine effective coordination and operational efforts, especially bothering on matters relating to power balance, influence and authority relative to the Office of National Security Coordinator in maintaining and promoting a unified national security command structure and therefore recommends the retirement of the officer from the police service. It is the expectation of IISS that the new national security management team would demonstrate high level of responsibility, commitment and dedication to the national interest, by promoting and enhancing national security and stability of Ghana rather than pursuing regime security, historically characterized by political suppression and human rights abuses. Given the current security threats facing the country including conflicts, environmental and health threats, food security threats, violent crime, cyber threats and regional threat of terrorism and cross-border crimes, intelligence gathering capability should be enhanced and security agencies resourced and empowered to respond to these threats in a timely and efficient manner. While, it is commendable the swift response by the new National Security Coordinator to the renewed conflict in NKWANTA in the OTI REGION, to assess the situation and assure the people of government’s responsibility to maintain peace in the area, the Institute urges the Coordinator to adopt a non-militarized, conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approach to dealing with the myriad of conflicts across the country, including BAWKU and increasing conflicts in the mining areas, taking into consideration underlying root causes and complex factors fueling these conflicts and re-evaluation of the effectiveness of kinetic strategies adopted to address conflicts in the country over time. It is the expectation of IISS that the National Security Coordinator, as Head of the Intelligence Community (IC) and Principal Advisor to the President, National Security Council, Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector General of Police and all government agencies and departments on matters of national security would prioritize legal and structural reforms to refine the National Security Council Secretariat into a highly technical and professional center for national intelligence, with a more unified, effective and efficient IC capable of supplying required intelligence in a timely and effective manner to enhance national security. The proposed review of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) should provide for a harmonized human resource and recruitment and staffing policy for attracting the needed skills and manpower for the effective performance of the functions of the Office set out in Section 21 of the Act, in pursuance of Article 84 of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution. Recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission and Ejura Shooting Incident Committee should be rigorously implemented as part of the national security intelligence sector reforms, in particular matters touching on the demilitarization of the National Security Council Secretariat. Re-instating and enhancing time-tested recruitment standards and processes into the intelligence services (Bureau of National Intelligence, Research Bureau and quasi-intelligence outfits) should be pursued to eliminate the practice of infiltration of the intelligence system by political elements and regime operatives, a development that undermines professionalism and integrity of the intelligence system. IIISS further urges that stringent recruitment and appointment procedures for staff to the Office of National Security Coordinator pursuant to Section 23 of Act 1030 be instituted to eliminate the practice of employing party loyalists to perform parallel law enforcement functions which the established security agencies are constitutionally mandated to perform. The NSCS must be staffed with persons with highly specialized and technical skills including specialists and subject matter experts in intelligence, forensics, analysis and key areas of critical need for the office rather than employing persons for basic law enforcement functions. Clear procedures and protocols for secondment of personnel of the established security agencies should be developed and implemented, but coordination of the work of the security agencies should be a major focus rather than directly undertaking of enforcement actions. The Institute also notes with high commendation, the new government’s prioritization of addressing and strengthening regional security and stability in view of current security and political security challenges in the Sahel area, and the challenges facing the regional bloc ECOWAS’ ability to maintain effective regional cohesion and integration among member states and enhanced stability of the bloc, in particular relating to the Sahelian security and political crisis. The appointment of a Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States (ASS) comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting regional cohesion given the planned exit of the ASS from ECOWAS, and its potential impact on ECOWAS in promoting regional integration, harmony and stability, in particular on Ghana, in view of the relationship between Ghana and the ASS in the area of trade and security. IISS urges the government to employ all diplomatic means to ensure the return of ASS members to ECOWAS, while recognizing the peculiar needs and aspirations of the citizens of these countries and
IISS Commends Ghana For Peaceful Political Transition
IISS Commends Ghana For Peaceful Political Transition The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) commends the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana for a peaceful transfer of power, following its peaceful December 07 general elections. The successful handover of power to a democratically elected President and Members of Parliament further demonstrates the growing resilience of Ghana’s democracy and an enduring beacon of democracy in Africa. 2. IISS extends its congratulations to President of the Republic H.E John Dramani MAHAMA, Vice President H.E Jane Naana Opoku AGYEMANG, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban BAGBIN and Members of Parliament on this historic occasion of 9th political transition of the 4th Republic of Ghana. 3. The Institute admonishes the new political leadership of the country to exhibit high level of commitment to good governance and responsibility to the people in the conduct of their public mandates as given by the Ghanaian voters, and to act in manner that ensures free, fair and just society that promotes the general welfare and aspirations of the population, in line with the Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter Six of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution. 4. IISS as a specialized security think-tank specialized in national security intelligence affairs, in continuing its monitoring, assessment and evaluation of security developments, policies and programs, including tracking of political manifesto commitments and policy proposals of political parties, has taken critical notice of the NDC government’s security sector blueprint and policy proposals contained in its 2024 campaign manifesto for enhancing national security and public safety. 5. It is the expectation of IISS, that the MAHAMA government as a matter of priority would implement drastic, robust and critical reforms to address key factors and challenges affecting the effective and efficient functioning of the security system. The Institute takes notice of, and shall monitor closely proposed key institutional and structural reforms contained in Chapter 6. 4 of the NDC Manifesto, which among others, key priority areas should focus on; a. conducting investigations into recruitment malpractices undertaken by the past government and ensure the security services are purged of all politically recruited and undesirable elements, and restore merit-based recruitments, promotions and appointments into the security services. b. reviewing the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 2020 (Act 1030) in order to; i. restructure and refine the intelligence community to meet demands of contemporary national security threats and global security dynamics. ii. restore time-tested standard and professional recruitment processes for recruitment, training and re-training of intelligence officers in line with international best practices and intelligence sector governance and national security management. iii. restore and mandate the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) to conduct vetting of all potential candidates for recruitment and appointment into the security agencies and sensitive establishments. iv. reform the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) into a highly specialized and professional center of national intelligence for the purpose of enhancing national security, defence and protection of the sovereignty of the Republic of Ghana. v. provide a legal framework to guide the direct appointment of staff to the Office of National Security Co-ordinator, to ensure only persons with specialist skills and highly specialized expertise are employed to assist the Co-ordinator in the performance of his functions, with limited secondment of only personnel of the established security agencies to the Secretariat, ensuring that the respective security agencies are empowered to perform their constitutional mandates, without usurpation of the powers and mandates by politically recruited party elements performing parallel law enforcement functions under the auspices of the NSCS. c. Instituting reforms to prevent the misuse of the military in civil matters and empower the police, in collaboration with other security agencies to conduct its constitutional civil security mandate for the maintenance of internal security, law and order. d. Liaise with Parliament to fast-track the operation of an Intelligence Select Committee of Parliament to deepen parliamentary oversight over the intelligence sector in line with the new Standing Order of Parliament. 6. The Institute, in line with its mandate as a professional, non-partisan and independent security think-tank, in offering policy recommendations and advisories to governments for improvement in the management of national security and professional functioning of the intelligence community, would be submitting a full policy paper outlining detailed recommendations and policy options, and engage with relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of National Security, Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior for reforming the national security and intelligence system to combat new and emerging threats to national security, peace and stability. 7. IISS re-iterates its commitment to upholding professionalism in the conduct of national security intelligence and looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders and similar organizations in promoting national security and international peace and stability. Issued Accra, 07 January 2025. IISS Directorate END. 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IISS Trains Pentecost University Journalism Students.
The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) has trained 20 Students of the Department of Communication Studies of the Pentecost University on principles of investigation and intelligence gathering. The training forms part of the institute’s corporate social responsibility toward building the capacity of relevant stakeholders in intelligence gathering, investigations and analysis to advance the course of safeguarding national security. The head of the Department of Communication Studies, Mrs Miriam Annan noted that the training could not have come at a better time than this era of emerging threats of terrorism and violent extremists, whereby every individual must be concerned about the issue of safety and security. She further charged the journalism students to be more serious, especially with the acquisition of investigative journalism skills to contribute to the maintenance of peace, security and stability. The Acting Director of the institute who is also a lecturer at the University, Nana Dr Sadiq Adu-Twum said it is imperative to provide a better understanding of crime and criminal analytical skills to would-be journalists to be able to help weed the various rots in society including the much talked about phenomena of coorruption. The training was facilitated by Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Godwyll Addison, a senior law enforcement officer, and also a senior instructor of the IISS Department of Training and Development. Source: IISS Communication Bureau
Press Release – IISS APPOINTS NANA DR. SADIQ ADU-TWUM AS ACTING DIRECTOR
The Governing Board of the Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) has appointed Nana Dr. Sadiq Adu-Twum as Acting Director effective 1st January, 2022. The Acting Director who is also the Nkosuahene of Gomoa Mangoase Traditional Area in the Central Region, is a retired Naval Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces and currently Lecturer at the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies (ISDES) and the Pentecost University, Ghana. His new position follows the appointment of the former Director of the Institute, Mr. Moses Jatuat as Country Security Advisor to German Development Corporation (GIZ-Ghana). Mr. Moses Jatuat, Co-founder and former Director IISS, is a specialist Security Consultant in National Security Intelligence. He was Director IISS from 2019 to 2021 and currently Deputy National Project Co-ordinator for Ghana Security Assessment Project which is a Government-CSO project aimed at contributing to Ghana’s National Security Early Warning and Response Framework outlined in National Security Strategy, 2020. In a related development, Mr. Noah Fiadu-Kpogli, an Analyst in the Department of Research and Analysis has been appointed as Acting Director Communication. Mr. Fiadu-Kpogli will in addition to his role as Analyst, head IISS Communication Bureau. All stakeholders, media and the general public are to note these changes accordingly. SIGNED:Victoria Jatuat (Ms)Secretary to BoardInstitute for Intelligence and Strategic Security
Project democracy of transparency, accountability and equity- Ag. Director IISS
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
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
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
