Police must live up to the task

The arrest last Monday of three foreign nationals with explosives believed to be hand-held grenades, among other offensive weapons, has sent shivers down the spines of many Ghanaians. The worst part of the situation was when the news went viral on social media that one of the suspects was affiliated to the radical Islamist group, the ISIS.

In its quest to defuse the tension and calm the nerves of the people, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Appeatu, yesterday held a news conference in Accra to reassure Ghanaians and members of the international community of their safety and noted that there was no cause for alarm.According to him, the seizure of the ammunition was a result of police intelligence-led operations and noted that the command was working with the relevant agencies to get to the bottom of the matter to fully allay the fears of the public.

The IGP also made it clear to the public that the investigations sought to answer the lingering questions about whether the suspects are terrorists or had any linkages to terrorist groups, how they obtained the objects, their sources and the potential allies, if any, and more
Without doubt, the assurance from the police is welcome because it will allow people to go about their duties without let or hindrance.

It is equally refreshing that the IGP has dispatched a crack team of investigators and specialists to follow up and unravel every little information regarding the activities of the suspects.

The Daily Graphic would commend the Ghana Police Service for rising to the occasion to prevent what many think could easily have spelt doom for the country, if the news, as peddled on social media, is anything to go by.

We also appreciate the informants who led the police to apprehend the suspects and urge all to be on the lookout for any similar incidents that do not look normal.

For us, the best way to prevent any terrorist attacks on our soil will be through a concerted effort between the security agencies and the citizenry. We need to be curious and ask questions when we see any suspicious act because that is the best way to go.

But, while we laud the efforts of the police, we also prevail on them to be more vigilant, visible and alert to prevent any attack in the country. As we know, these terrorists strike where there are large crowds, such as malls, marketplaces, pubs and other areas, including the beaches.

Much as we admit that the modus operandi of terrorists is complicated and unpredictable, we still are of the view that the presence of the police in easy target areas can help foil attacks, or even if they happen, the casualty levels will be drastically minimised.

In the so-called advanced countries, the reaction of the security forces to any attacks is usually swift and decisive and therefore able to stem the effects of attacks by terrorist elements.

We need to rise to the occasion to ensure that we are not caught off guard because the consequences can be dire. the Ghanaian security services have some of the best personnel in Africa and we trust that they will be up to the task in any eventuality.