Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior were on Wednesday educated on to the new National Security Strategy (NSS).
The workshop, which was organised by the Ministry of National Security in Accra afforded participants the opportunity to be taken through the processes that the NSS document went through before completion.
The NSS document was launched on June 7 this year by President Nana AdooDankwaAkufo-Addo as part of measures to co-ordinate a national response effort to protect and safeguard the country from threats, risks, challenges to its security, and stability from both the domestic and international environments.
Delivering his address, the Minister for National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah said engaging various members of the public from different sectors was very necessary to create a deep understanding about the NSS document.
He stated that while putting the document together, different views from leaders of different political parties, Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) and security personnel among others, were sought in efforts to get comprehensive reliable information and ideas for the NSS document.
Though Ghana was a fairly peaceful country, the minister said it would be risky for government to relent in its efforts to implement measures or find a way to develop a better approach in ensuring that the country remained secured and free from all threats.
“This is not a matter of politicisation that is why we sought the views of even some members of the opposition while putting this document together. We are doing this in the interest of Ghana. Safety and peace is very important to us because without peace there cannot be any form of development,” he added.
Mr Dapaah bemoaned that recently the country had recorded quite a number of armed robbery cases and an alarming rate of cybercrime which ought to be taken serious as such incidences affected the peace and tranquility the country enjoyed.
“Cybercrime is a major problem in Ghana now because some cyber experts are using their skills to defraud individuals and institutions. We will not relax and wait for things to escalate beyond where it has reached, taking swift actions to avert unpleasant happenings is necessary. Putting together this document has really taught us alot,” he said.
The Ranking Member on Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Mr James Agalga in his remarks commended the ministry for using an all inclusive approach in putting the NSS document together.
He stated that it was very refreshing to have a document like that of the NSS launched and put before parliament for consideration.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
