Adopt multi-pronged approach to tackle transnational crimes - Former Chief of Army Staff

A former Chief of Army Staff, Major General Richard Opoku-Adusei (retd), has called for a multifaceted approach to deal with transnational organised crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime and terrorism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expressing concern that the pandemic had "overshadowed" the threats posed by such crimes, he argued that no single institution could successfully handle the menace.

"I wish to remind you of the current and emerging threats posed by transnational organised crimes such as child trafficking, drug trafficking, data fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and terrorism which seem to have been overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Maj. Gen. Opoku-Adusei said.

Addressing a graduation ceremony of students of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) Junior Division Course 74 at the Otu Barracks at Teshie, near Accra, yesterday, he stressed that "these threats require a multifaceted approach as no single institution can successfully handle all of them".

Graduation ceremony

A total of 60 officers from four different African countries graduated at the event.

They comprised 48 students from the Ghana Army, Navy and Air Force, six officers from Nigeria, two officers from the Armed Forces of Liberia, one from The Gambia, one from Guinea and two from Sierra Leone.

The officers went through 21 weeks of intensive studies at the GAFCSC.

The Commandant of the GAFCSC, Rear Admiral Moses Beick-Baffour, conferred the “JDC” symbol on the graduates and presented them with certificates.

Post-election violence

Maj. Gen. Opoku-Adusei, who was the special guest of honour for the event, charged the graduands to use the knowledge they had acquired to assist in post-election management, particularly at a time when the country had come out of a successful general election.

He also entreated graduands from the other countries to use the knowledge they had acquired to promote peace, security and development in their respective countries.

“I urge you to go out there with the skills acquired to assist in formulating policies and implementing measures that will make our countries and the world a safer place to live in,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Opoku-Adusei praised the foreign students for helping to sustain the credibility and contribution of the GAFCSC to the professional development of officers in the various African countries.

“I can assure you that Ghana will continue to open her doors to sister African countries in order to promote this continental cooperation,” he said.

Rear Admiral Beick-Baffour commended the students for their commitment and dedication to the course in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.