The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon Stephen Yakubu, says the ‘See something, say something’ campaign has prevented possible terrorists attacks and heightened residents awareness on violent extremism from the Sahel Region.
In an address on his behalf to welcome a combined delegation from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugees Board to the Regional Coordinating Council, the Minister said sensitization of residents at border communities led to the arrest of two individuals allegedly connected to Jihadists’ extremism activities from neighbouring Burkina Faso.
He said the campaign enabled residents to voluntarily offer information to security agencies, which led to the arrest of some suspected extremists in the Region, and indicated that recently donated vehicles to security agencies in the Region by the Ministry of National Security, boosted patrols at various entry points in the Region.
The Minister, who is the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) said the proximity of the Region to neighbouring countries made it fertile for terrorists activities as bandits threats exposed the region to insecurity.
He said as a result of the insurgencies in Burkina Faso, a huge number of immigrants flooded the eastern corridor of the region which compelled REGSEC to beef-up security in the area.
He said some of the Burkinabes had returned to their home country after calm was restored, while others decided to settle in Ghana permanently.
Hon. Yakubu appealed to the Ghana Refugees Board to fast- truck processes to grand them refugees status, and further thanked all partners who supported the refugees with food and non-food items at the various camps in the Region.
The Officer in charge of the Regional Bureau of the UNHCR, based in Senegal, Ms. Millicent Mutili, described Ghana’s hospitality as “fantastic” as it played host to many refugees from war torn countries like Liberia, Côte D’Ivoire among others.
She was hopeful that the UNHCR would develop greater collaboration to ensure the crisis in Burkina Faso was completely resolved.
