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Removal of Nigerian billboards has saved Ghana from possible Boko Haram attack - Security Expert

By Myjoyonline.com |Naa Sakwaba Akwa
General News Removal of Nigerian billboards has saved Ghana from possible Boko Haram attack - Security Expert
JAN 26, 2015 LISTEN

A security expert, Dr Kwesi Ennin has indicated that Ghana has been saved from a possible attack by terrorist group Boko Haram by pulling down Nigerian political billboards put up in some parts of Accra.

His comments follow an order by National Security, directing the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to pull down the billboards of Nigerian Presidential candidate, General Mohammed Buharim and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

The billboards located near the Accra mall, Dzorwulu and Osu were pulled down over the weekend.

Dr Kwesi Ennin, a security expert at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, said political elites in the country could have been targeted by Boko Haram if the political campaign in Ghana was not stopped.

“I think is critical that National Security and Accra Metropolitan Assembly have listened to the concerns and voices raised by ordinary citizens that these billboards and some level of active political engagement might pose potential threat in the future.”

He said the removal of the billboards should not only be about Boko Haram but also about whether or not laws governing the country permit foreign political entities to campaign here.

“We cannot overlook the fact that Boko Haram activities are a concern to all West Africa and naturally in terms of terrorist thinking, if we are perceived to be giving an active political ground for the people who are supposed to be the target but are not resident in Nigeria then of course they will look for yet another target so I don't doubt at all that that may have been part of the consideration.

Meanwhile International Relations expert Dr Vladmir Antwi Danso says Ghana has been saved from severing future relations with Nigeria.

He explains that if there is the perception that Ghana is supporting one candidate over the other then the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria after the elections will be marred.

“What if after the elections the scales change, then the relationship between our country and Nigeria will also have some hiccups.”

He said the country has to be very cautious in handling such matters because even though they look every insignificant, they can encourage complications in international relations. 

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