Security Analyst and Executive Director of Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building Saani Adib said the newly launched national security strategy will be worthless without stakeholder commitment and an elaborate implementation strategy.
The country’s first ever National Security Strategy was launched by the President Nana Addo on June 7, 2021 in Accra, with the vision to maintain the country as open, tolerant, place of social cohesion, peace-loving and people centred. The document also is to make the country secure, united and prosperous constitutional democracy that upholds the rule of law.
But contained in his reaction to the document, the security analyst noted that “I received with elation the launch of the national Security strategy document. This has been a personal crusade I have waged since 2016 and it excites me to know that we finally have one”.
Mr. Adib said the document as launched with all fanfare, will not serve the purpose by which it was created if there is no stakeholder commitment or implementation funding, saying commitment and funding are the lifelines to realizing the country’s security aspirations.
“This document should be a people centered strategy hinged on human development as against the very much accustomed to state or regime preservation technique. The most sustainable means to security is good governance, access to food, water, quality healthcare, employment, respect for rights and freedoms of the citizens and protection of the environment” he explained.
He is of the view that the security strategy will serve as a blueprint to the way the security of the state will be run, while ending the adhoc approach to solving issues involving insecurities as they occur. He added that the strategy has come as a ‘better’ option to deal with existing insecurities and even preempt emerging ones.
Saani Adib maintained that most of the security documents in Ghana “were scattered in different legislations and not up to date. For example, there is absolutely no way the arms and ammunition act could have preempted 3D printed guns as a threat”.
He therefore called on government to embark on an intensive awareness creation in other to get everyone play their role. “Ghanaians should be sensitized to understand that they have a role to play in protecting themselves and better securing their communities”
“There is therefore the need to regularly update the document to reflect the dynamics of security in a fast changing world. I advise every 4 years”.
