President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he has no information on the presence or otherwise of troops of the militant organisation, Al-Qaeda in Ghana.
He said this while hosting the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, at the Jubilee House. This followed questions posed by a journalist, who works with the New York Times at a press conference, held as part of Madam Harris’ three-day visit to the country.
“The presence of Al-Qaeda in Ghana? I don’t know. Formally, we don’t have any information to that effect, it may well be that there are cells and others already in the country, but those are matters that the security agencies are very much on top of and we are hoping that there will be no Al-Qaeda presence in Ghana.”
“That has to be the wish of anybody who is a friend of this country and wishes the Ghanaian people well.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
The President also expressed the country’s concern over the possible presence of extremist groups, adding that security is being tightened accordingly. He further explained that amidst all these, Ghana would prefer to tackle its security problems on her own, without the interference of a foreign body.
“We want to be in a position to resolve our own security problems ourselves as much as possible, without the intervention of foreign troops.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, touched down in Accra on Sunday, March 26, 2023. She was in the company of her husband, Douglas Emhoff and other top officials from the US government.
Madam Harris was met by Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the Kotoka International Airport, amid traditional drumming and cheers from some school pupils.
From Accra, her next stop will be the other two African countries aside Ghana to be visited; Tanzania and Zambia.
Kamala Harris Urges Ghana’s Creditors To Help Meet Debt Obligation Amid IMF Talks
US Vice President, Kamala Harris has entreated Ghana’s foreign creditors to help the country meet its debt servicing obligation.
Madam Harris believes this will enable Ghana successfully negotiate the bailout it is seeking, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Ghana’s economy is currently in turmoil as the government knocks on the IMF’s doors for a financial facility, amid a painful domestic debt restructuring programme.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, also just returned from a trip to China to negotiate external debt forgiveness, to enable it to secure the expected $3 billion cushion from the Fund. But speaking at the Jubilee House in Accra, Kamala Harris expressed support for the “engagement with the IMF.”
She insisted that the Biden administration “will continue to push for all bilateral creditors to provide meaningful debt reduction for countries that needed, including Ghana.”
“We must work together as an international community to ease the debt burden that is facing far too many countries.”
US Vice President, Kamala Harris
She also announced the US government is committing $100 million, to combat terrorism in some coastal West African countries. These countries include Ghana, Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. This, she said forms part of President Joe Biden’s strategy to prevent violent extremism and promote stability.
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