Security Expert, Adib Saani has cautioned that the escalation of the conflict in Bawku in the Upper East Region, can possibly lead to terrorism when we least expect it.

“I was reading a certain report that points to the possibility of terrorists instrumentalising the conflict situation in Bawku and the need for us to be very careful because high-handedness can lead to more people joining the terrorists,” he indicated.

Speaking on Prime Morning, Adib Saani said that there have already been several attempts by terrorists to invade the country.

“Besides, about a year ago, there was a police cable that pointed to the presence of certain individuals from Burkina Faso who have actually come to fight in Bawku and were on their way back hence the Upper East Regional Police Command should be on the lookout.”

“Not too long after that, there was another national security information that pointed to some movements concerning persons fitting the description of suspected terrorists in that area, so it wouldn’t be wild for anyone to pose it that perhaps they might have even come in already and either sides of the conflict might have made gestures to these militants to join them in the fight”, he said.

The security expert continued that the country recently received refugees from Burkina Faso due to their deteriorating security situation and that there is a high probability that some terrorists may disguise themselves as refugees just to join them and enter into Ghana.

“Because usually the movement is uncoordinated, unplanned, it’s sporadic, when they attack the villages at night they just leave, whatever they wear is what they enter into Ghana with and because we don’t have relief agencies on hand to receive them, by the time they get to them they have moved to Kumasi and other parts of the country”, Adib said.

He also mentioned that the Burkinabe authorities gave weapons to its civilians in the name of volunteerism against the spread of jihadism hence terrorists go to villages attacking the volunteers.

“The volunteers might mix up with the refugees and come into Ghana and the probability of the terrorists chasing the volunteers into Ghana’s territory one day is very high so we need to really be on the lookout”.

Adib said that government cannot do this alone hence it should collaborate with CSOs and NGOs that are active on the ground especially in implementing the “See something, say something” policy.

He added that from a recent survey they conducted, it is evident that the ordinary Ghanaian has little knowledge in security culture and even the identification of terrorists.

He therefore urged government and other security agencies to deeply educate Ghanaians and create more security awareness in the country.