Is it a Vote of No Confidence in National Security by the NCCE claim that Extremists and Jihadists target 2024 polls?

(1). We take note of the headline “Extemists, jihadists target Dec 2024 polls …NCCE picks signals of attempts to recruit youth to mar elections.” in the Ghanaian Times of 15th November 2024. We hope it is either misreporting by the newspaper or the NCCE misspoke. If the reportage is accurate, we wish to ask if it is a vote of no confidence in National Security by the NCCE and its claim.

(2). We wish to find out whether the NCCE’s claim is a grand scheme to create a spate of insecurity to test the level of preparedness of the troops and civilian response and concern, etc, especially in border communities in the northern axis of the country?

(3). We find the NCCE claim counterintuitive because more security forces have already been deployed to border communities to counter extremists’ groups.

Perhaps, as part of the National Security Systems commitment to counter extremists before, during and after election 2024, our monitoring team noted from 11th to 12th November, 2024 the following deployments of soldiers in some communities in the Kusuag general area of the Upper East Region:

(a). Garu District – 35 soldiers, and 2 armour vehicles along the Kugri road closer to the Club House.

(b). Tempane District – 50 soldiers, and 3 armoured vehicles at a house just by the Tempane Primary School, closer to the District Assembly.

(c). Pusiga District – 40 soldiers and 2 armour vehicles at the SOCO building around the Widana Primary School, opposite to Alhaji Majeed’s house.

Moreover, it is likely that more security forces will be deployed during the elections.

We note that the Intelligence Agents and the inland Ghana Immigration Service officials continually profile commuters, and strange looking elements in the communities. Are we to take the NCCE claim as a vote of no-confidence in security and intelligence operations, especially in the northern axis of the country?

(4). Are we to take the NCCE’s claim as a vote of no-confidence in locals and other civilians’ participation in border management strategies – especially, the “See Something Say Something” strategy by the National Security System?

(5). While we take note that strategies of NSAGs change because they are dynamic, we wish to ask the NCCE to explain what will be the interest of any external terror group to want to destabilise Ghana during the December 2024 polls?

(6). If the NCCE’s claim published in the Ghanaian Times is intended to cause unnecessary tension and anxiety among citizens in the northern axis before the 2024 polls, this unscrupulous attempt will backfire!!

I shall return.

Owula Mangortey

Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to BAWKU

15th November 2024