‘Ghana not susceptible to attack by external elements’; Antwi-Danso dispels ISIS fears

Security analyst, Dr Vladmir Antwi-Danso, has ruled out a possible attack by the dreaded Islamist terrorist group, ISIS.

According to him, internal elements such as vigilante groups and criminal gangs pose a bigger security threat than external elements.

“Internal [attack]…is scarier than ISIS coming in to attack. ISIS will have to have a basis for the attack. And as I hazard the horizon, there is not the slightest chance. In fact, the probability is not up to one of an external attack by some radicals from outside.

“Except if we are hosting conferences here…where we have a lot Americans or Western countries coming in, then our security must be upped because they are their target, not Ghana,” he said on Thursday.

His analysis of Ghana’s security situation follows fears of a possible strike by ISIS after Police arrest three men with different types of ammunition, including seven hand grenades in Accra recently.

One of the men is rumoured to have ties with ISIS although police have not confirmed this.

The three were arrested at Odorkor, a community in Accra, upon a Police tip-off.

Grenade arrest

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the country is safe from any terrorist attacks but attacks on neighbouring Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast have left many in Ghana worried.

Giving his views Ghana’s security on news analysis programme, PM Express, on the Joy News channel on MultiTV, Dr Antwi-Danso said Ghana’s economic situation and the culture of impunity — evident in existence of vigilante groups — pose dire consequences to national security.

He urged the government to focus on job creation for the teeming youth, especially those residents in known violence hotspots like Fadama in Accra.

Thursday’s programme was on the theme “Terrorism Threat”. Watch the full programme below in the video link below.