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 cautions security personnel against unauthorized disclosure of intelligence
The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) is cautioning security personnel against unauthorized disclosure of classified intelligence and security information. Speaking in an interview with ATV Asem Dika program, Ag Director IISS, Nana Dr. Sadiq Adu-Twum, expressed serious concern about this development, noting that personnel engaged in the conduct posed greater threat to national security than the external extremist groups, adding that such leaks will enable extremists to change their modus operandi. Dr Sadiq Adu-Twum, while making reference to a press statement issued by the Institute on the recent leak of a national security intelligence meant for specific security authorities, explained that documents marked “confidential” are part of a class of documents which must not be disseminated to unauthorized persons. The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security remains committed to upholding high ethical and professional standards in the intelligence and national security domain. As an independent professional, non-partisan non-governmental organization, IISS is dedicated to promoting professionalism and professionalization within the field of intelligence and national security. Source: IISS Communication Bureau
China offers $15,000 cash — or a ‘spiritual reward’ — for national security tip-offs
Hong Kong (CNN)China is offering its citizens cash rewards of up to and above 100,000 yuan ($15,000) for tip-offs about people who endanger national security, as authorities intensify a years-long campaign to weed out what they see as growing threats from foreign espionage and “hostile forces.” Successful informants can receive either “spiritual rewards” in certificates or “material rewards” in cash, according to regulations released by the Ministry of State Security on Monday. The cash rewards are graded into four levels based on the value of the tip-off, ranging from less than 10,000 yuan ($1,500) to more than 100,000 yuan. Tip-offs should be specific about the people or actions involved, and the information needs to be new to the authorities. The reports can be made in person, online, by post or through the state security hotline. For years, Chinese authorities have encouraged the public to inform on foreign spies and their Chinese collaborators through propaganda and incentive campaigns — efforts that have gathered pace under the country’s leader Xi Jinping. “We must ensure that national security is all for the people and all by the people, mobilizing the efforts of the whole Communist Party and whole society to bring together powerful forces to safeguard national security,” Xi told officials in 2016. In 2017, the Beijing municipal government began offering rewards of up to half a million yuan ($75,000) for anyone who helps to expose a spy. Within a year, authorities had received nearly 5,000 reports and handed out rewards to informants ranging from scientific researchers to cab drivers, according to state-run Beijing News. The new measures aim to standardize such rewards and motivate the public, a Ministry of State Security representative told the Legal Daily, a state-run newspaper. “The formulation of the measures helps fully mobilize the enthusiasm of the general public to support and assist in national security work, and widely rally the hearts, morale, wisdom and strength of the people,” the ministry representative was quoted as saying. The regulations also come as Chinese officials and state media push the narrative that China is under grave, constant threat from “hostile foreign forces,” who are supposedly seeking to infiltrate and undermine the country in every possible way. “China’s national security is confronted with a severe and complex situation. In particular, foreign intelligence agencies and hostile forces have significantly intensified their infiltration and espionage activities with more diverse means and are targeting broader areas, posing a serious threat to China’s national security,” the ministry representative said. China’s growing suspicion toward foreign influences stems partly from its growing geopolitical rivalry with the West, especially the United States, as the country turns more authoritarian at home and assertive abroad under Xi. Xi’s efforts to strengthen national security started a year after he came to office. In November 2013, he set up a powerful National Security Commission — which he heads — to lead the effort and better coordinate the wings of the country’s security bureaucracy. In 2015, China passed a sweeping national security law covering a wide array of areas, including defense, politics, the economy, the environment, technology, cyberspace, outer space, culture, ideology and religion. It also set up a national hotline for citizens to report on suspected spies or espionage. On April 15, 2016, the country marked its first annual National Security Education Day with an avalanche of propaganda, including a comic-style poster displayed across Beijing warning young female civil servants about dating handsome foreigners — lest they fall for a potential James Bond. And for the country’s second National Security Education Day, an online publishing house issued books for schoolchildren to learn how to safeguard national security, containing games like “find the spy.” The Global Times, a state-run nationalist tabloid, said the books were part of an effort to mobilize students from primary schools to colleges as “a huge counter-spy force.” About the same time, an unofficial notice circulated widely on social media, listing ways to spot a potential spy. Foreign correspondents, missionaries and NGO staff were among those identified as likely suspects. So too were people “with vague jobs, multiple titles and plenty of money”, those who have “studied abroad in many countries” and “people who regularly go somewhere to meet other people.” But these campaigns have not only raised suspicion of foreigners living in China. They have also been used to target government critics, social activists, lawyers, journalists, feminists and other outspoken members of the Chinese public — especially given the extremely broad and vague definition of “national security.” On social media, liberal commentators are often accused by nationalists of being traitors to their country and labeled “walking 500k” — meaning they work for foreign spies and are worth a cash reward if reported. Their accounts are frequently attacked by nationalist trolls and reported to censors — and subsequently wiped from platforms. Foreign forces and their Chinese collaborators are increasingly blamed for a host of social issues — from substandard illustrations in primary school textbooks to mounting criticism against the country’s zero-Covid policy. Following the release of the new regulations, some Chinese social media users joked that Chinese “traitors” have depreciated to 100,000 yuan from 500,000 yuan in 2017 because there were simply too many of them nowadays. Source: CNN
Prosecute persons involved in leakage of National Security Information-IISS
The Institute for Intelligence and Strategic Security (IISS) has called for investigation and prosecution of persons involved in leakage of intelligence meant to fight against violent extremism and other threats to national security. In a statement issued by the Institute, it notes that the trend of authorized disclosure of information and intelligence poses threats to national security and charged the Ministry of National Security to bring the culprits to book. The statement further called for review of the recruitment regime to ensure undesirable elements do not gain entry into the security and intelligence agencies as employment of such persons in sensitive positions endangers national security. It also advised all citizens and in particular security personnel to guard against unauthorized disclosure of classified information, citing such conduct as offence punishable under Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 2020 (Act 1030). Full statement below. Click to read IISS Press Release
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
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
Ministry of Defence meets with CSOs in security sector
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has held discussions with selected security sector Civil Society Organizations and Security Analysts on matters of defence and security policy at the Ministry of Defence Complex in Accra. According to Minister for Defence, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, the meeting forms part of government’s strategic initiative to engage with various sectors of society at all levels to deepen collaboration and partnership for maintenance of peace and stability, and therefore find the engagement with CSOs in peace and security as very vital to supporting the ministry and other sector ministries through constructive deliberation and sharing of knowledge and experiences. He observed that CSOs and in particular security analysts who serve as voice of the people remain critical in bridging the gap between government and the populace and was therefore grateful that members honoured the invitation and assured of constant engagement on matters of common interest. Commenting on role of the ministry in supporting the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to discharge its constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of the country, he indicated that government through the MOD had taken measures to improve the operational efficiency and capability of the GAF to tackle emerging threats such as terrorism, violent extremist activities and maritime crime and called for support of all towards safeguarding the country from these threats. On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Security Warehouse Ltd, Mr. Adam Bonaa expressed appreciation for the Minister’s initiative and charged the ministry to work assiduously in safeguarding the country’s borders. He also observed that as security analysts, their role is to scrutinize the sector and make relevant recommendations for the appropriate authorities to implement and that sector CSOs will continue to hold government accountable as far as matters of defense and security are concerned. Dr. Ishmael Norman, President of Institute of Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies (ISDES) charged the minister and government for that matter to pay critical attention to maritime security as recent reports of maritime crime show a phenomenal increase. Other members took turns to raise issues concerning the sector. Also present at the meeting were Deputy Minister of Defence Hon. Kofi Amankwah Manu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum, Executive Director of West African Center for Counter-Extremism (WACCE), Mr. Mutaru Muqtar, Senior Policy Analyst at Amann Center for Security and Counterterrorism (ACDS-Africa), Mr Moses Jatuat, Program Officer of Institute of Security and Safety Policy Research (ISSAPR), Mr. Derick Nestor Hokey and Executive Director of Bureau of Public Safety Mr. Nana Yaw Akwada.
ISSAPR holds training on elections and security for security agencies and media
The Institute of Security and Safety Policy Research (ISSAPR), a civil society organization and security think tank in collaboration with Jatikay Center for Human Security and Peacebuilding has held a one-day northern sector training and capacity building programme on Election and Security Management for media, security agencies and political party representatives to build their capacities in monitoring and reporting on elections and security related issues. The training program is part of ISSAPR’s nationwide training activities for stakeholders including the media, security agencies, political parties, chiefs, opinion leaders and the youth towards ensuring peace before, during and after the 2020 elections. Participants drawn from various media houses and security agencies including police, prisons, immigration, BNI were taken through topics such as elections and conflicts in Africa, role of media in security and peace building during elections, political patronage and electoral violence and internal security and election monitoring. In a welcome address, Director of Research and Policy Analysis at the Institute, Mr. Moses Jatuat underscored the need for the media and security agencies to exhibit high level of professionalism in the discharge of their functions so as to maintain the existing peace and stability of the region and Ghana as a whole, and was hopeful the training which is being held throughout the country will equip the stakeholders with the necessary skills to provide excellent public service on election and security coverage as the nation inches into the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. He charged security agencies and media to collaborate and ensure the best interest of the public is served. The chairman of the event, Alhaji Razak Saani, northern regional director, NCCE commended ISSAPR and Jatikay Center for organizing the workshop in Tamale and emphasized the need for citizen participation in the democratic governance of the country and that the prevalence of freedom and inclusiveness were key to a free democratic society. On her part, Madam Janet Chigabatia of the National Peace Council called for citizens to co-exist peacefully and use appropriate means to address disputes. She further expressed the NPC’s continuous efforts in engaging with all stakeholders in ensuring peace before, during and after the general elections. Mr. Lucas Yieyel, Ag. The Regional Director of the Electoral Commission assured the public of the ECs mandate to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. He also indicated that the Electoral Commission will be undertaking a two-day exhibition exercise in September and urged the public to participate in the exercise so as to compile a credible register for the upcoming 2020 general elections. A representative of the regional police commander, Chief Supt. Issifu Tank Iddrissu assured the public of maximum security during the election processes, adding that the Tamale Metropolitan Election Security Taskforce has mapped out strategies to effectively address security threats from identified conflict hotspots and violence-prone areas in the area. Present at the event were the Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Alhaji Razak Saani, Acting Northern Regional Director of Electoral Commission, Mr. Lucas Yieyel, representative of National Peace Council, Madam Janet Chigabatia, representative of the Northern regional house of chiefs Kasulana Naa Yakubu Bukari, Vicar-General of the Tamale Catholic Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Mathew Yitiereh, Northern regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Abdul Salam, Head of Ahmaddiya Mission in Tamale, Maulvi Omar Abdul Hakeem, representative of regional police commander, Chief Supt. Issifu Tanko Iddrissu, Northern regional Public Relations Officer of Prisons, DSP David Afatsawu, Officer-In-charge of Tamale Female Prisons, DSP Doris Ameku and Head of enforcement at northern regional immigration command ASI Joseph Sosu. Facilitators of the training event included Mr. Sadiq Adu-twum, Executive Director of the Institute of Security and Safety Policy Research, Mr. Moses Jatuat, Director of Research and Policy Analysis at the Institute of Security and Safety Policy Research, Mr. Adib Saani, Executive Director of Jatikay Center for Human Security and Peacebuilding, and Mr. Albert Yelyang, National Network Co- ordinator of West African Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP-Ghana. Participants at the event expressed satisfaction with the training and called on ISSAPR to organize more of such programmes in issues of conflict, peace security. Source: GhanaWeb
ISSAPR holds a one-day training on Election and Security Reporting
The Institute of Security, Safety and Policy Research, a civil society organization and security think tank has held a one-day training and capacity building programme on Election and Security Reporting for media practitioners in the Greater Accra region to build their capacities in monitoring and reporting on elections and security related issues. The training programme is part of ISSAPR’s nationwide training activities for stakeholders including the media, security agencies, political parties, chiefs and opinion leaders and the youth towards ensuring peace before, during and after the 2020 elections. Participants drawn from various media houses were taken through topics such as role of media in peace and security, elections and conflicts in Africa, role of media in peace building during elections and internal security and election monitoring. Speaking at the event, the Director of Research, Policy Analysis and Training at the Institute, Mr. Moses Jatuat underscored the need for the media to exhibit high level of professionalism in security and election reportage so as to help in maintaining the existing peace and stability of Ghana and was hopeful the training which will be held throughout the country will equip media professionals with the necessary skills to provide excellent reportage on election and security coverage as the nation inches into the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. Facilitators of the training event included Security Analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Kazz Group, Mr. Adam Bonaa, Lawyer and Lecturer in Security and Intelligence at the University of Professional Studies, Mr. Sammy Darko, Executive Director of Jatikay Center for Human Security and Peacebuilding, Mr. Adib Saani, and Executive Director of the Institute of Security, Safety and Policy Research, Mr. Sadiq Adu-Twum. Participants at the event expressed satisfaction with the training and called on ISSAPR to organize more such programmes to equip the media in Ghana in issues of conflict, peace security. Source: GhanaWeb
Media urged to promote national cohesion ahead of elections
Wa, Nov. 14, GNA – Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister has appealed to the media to promote national cohesion and peace-building before, during, and after the December 7 elections. By this, he admonished the media to desist from carrying reports that would divide and threaten the peace of the country, saying, “It is a truism that the media can make or destroy this country”, therefore the need for the media to be circumspect in their reportage. Dr Bin Salih made the appeal to the media in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Gilbert Nuuri-teg, the Regional Coordinating Director during the opening of a workshop on election and security for regional stakeholders towards a peaceful 2020 general elections. The programme, a collaborative venture between Aman Centre for Democracy, Security, and Counter-Terrorism in Africa (ACDS-Africa) and Jatikay Center for Human Security and Peace-building is part of nationwide capacity building activities for relevant stakeholders including the media, security agencies, political parties, chiefs and youth groups towards peaceful 2020 elections. Dr Bin Salih noted that the training would undoubtedly contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 16 (SDG 16), which was aimed at ensuring peace, justice, and strong accountable democratic institutions for security, stability, and national cohesion. He said Ghana had a record of holding several successful Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Fourth Republic without any major incident, adding that this had no doubt earned the country respect from the international community. “Even in cases where there were issues with the election results, the aggrieved parties and individuals resorted to the law courts and not violence to resolve their grievances”, he said and stressed that they needed to sustain the record. The Regional Minister whilst admonishing relevant stakeholders to play their various roles effectively to ensure successful and peaceful elections, also assured that the Regional Security Council would put in place adequate security measures to ensure peaceful political campaigns leading to peaceful polls in the region on December 7. Mr Moses Jatuat, Director, Research and Policy Analysis, ACDS-Africa, noted that issues of elections were becoming a serious threat to the security and civility of nations across the globe of which Ghana was not an exception. He, therefore, added that efforts such as the training of stakeholders allowed them to redouble efforts towards consolidating the democratic gains chalked by the nation. Delivering a presentation on the topic “Role of the media in Security and Peace-building during elections”, Mr Adib Saani, Executive Director, Jatikay Center for Human Security and Peace-building admonished the media to be very mindful in conflict-sensitive reporting to protect social cohesion. He said the practice of engaging in sensationalism to sell had the potential to cause social disintegration and therefore encouraged media houses to prioritize the general good of society over the interest of the media house. “When wrong, eat the humble pie, retract and apologize”, Mr Saani advised. “In this election, accuracy, fairness, balanced and responsible reportage is highly important and the media must therefore desist from relying on unofficial sources for election results adding that verification of information on social media was extremely key to avoid misinformation”. Source: Ghana News Agency
