The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has intimated that government has employed several measures to deal with security at the nation’s borders.
According to the Minister, the security agencies are on high alert to deal with threats posed by terrorists to destabilize the peace of the region and the country as a whole.
Mr. Yakubu averred that following the rise in insecurity in neighboring Burkina Faso and other West African countries, there has been an increase in the presence of security service personnel at Ghana’s borders, to keep them safe from a possible spillover of terrorist activities.
Speaking on the recent reported incident of a suspected jihadist attack near the Pusiga District, the Minister noted that government has provided logistics to support the security agencies in combatting terrorism in the region.
“Upper East is very close to Burkina Faso and Togo and even before the coup d’état in Burkina Faso, the region had been very high alert following the security threats from jihadists from Mali and other areas. So, we have also been monitoring our borders to make sure that anything that happens, we convey the message to Accra.”
Stephen Yakubu
The Upper East Regional Minister indicated that the President is very aware of what is happening in the region and has been helping the region in terms of logistics to make sure that the borders are secured.
Attack didn’t target Ghanaians
Mr. Yakubu clarified that the reported attack near the Pusiga District did not target the Ghanaian community as was disclosed by the media. He noted that the attack happened at a mining site in a community outside Ghana’s territory.
“What happened was actually something that happened in Burkina Faso but very close to the border in the Pusiga District. It is a galamsey site and the information we have is that these jihadists stormed the place and killed some security men there who are not Ghanaians. Our boys and wives that are working there fled and came home. They were about six of them with seven children. These people were not refugees, they were not Burkinabes. They were citizens who had run back to the country.”
Stephen Yakubu
The Minister therefore allayed the fears of the residents and urged them to be vigilant as they go about their daily activities. Stephen Yakubu urged the residents to also report suspicious characters to the appropriate quarters for the necessary action to be taken.
“As people go about their normal duties, they should be very vigilant. If you see anybody who enters your town and you are not very sure, please report the person or alert the security services so that they can verify and deal with the matter.”
Stephen Yakubu
One of Burkina-Faso’s biggest mining company, Youga Mines located within the province of Boulgou was attacked by violent extremists. At least three security personnel were killed while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Ghanaian nationals from Kulungugu, Mognore and Sapeliga in the Pusiga district, Bawku Municipality and Bawku West District fled the area back home to Ghana with their families.
It is believed that some of the Ghanaian nationals came with their friends from Burkina-Faso raising security concerns in the district.
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