Being Part Of An International Community Requires Being Responsible And Responsive When And Where The Need Arises

The Ghanaian Security set up comprising of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and Ghana Police Service (GPS) have served in diverse United Nation (UN) peacekeeping operations since the early 1960s. Since their first contribution to the UN Operation in the Congo over 80,000 Ghanaian military, police and civilian personnel have served in various capacities in more than 30 UN missions.

Ghana is ranked among the top ten contributors to UN operation and ranked 8th with total personnel of 3,247 made up of diverse disciplines and skills that form the unique embodiment of the Ghanaian security services. The Ghanaian security services is no stranger to conflicts around the globe and is equally well resourced to carry out these interventions, which has become a source of pride and envy for others who aspire to achieve such accolades and recognitions accorded the Ghanaian security set up.

The quest to achieve such enviable record and recognition around the globe, have seen the influx of other neighbouring countries both near and afar training their senior officers in Ghana’s prestigious Military Academy and Training School. One will be wondering why the praises and motive? The motive being the recent temporary hosting of (GUANTANMO BAY DETAINEES) for a limited period of two years per information making news round on mainstream media, social media and diverse narratives among concerned citizenry.

The euphoria this statement have generated among the citizenry is an indication, Ghanaians cherishes and enjoy the peace, security and safety environment they dwell inn, but also have to come to the realisation that, we live in a global community in which Ghana as a country has a responsibility to “step up” and deliver when called upon in times of crises as we have always done. Ghanaians have every right to express fear of terrorist activities likely to take place on our soil due to the presence of these two detainees being housed.

But the question is What acts constitute terrorism? The UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN (USA), whom Ghana accepted these men from, do not have a universal definition for the word “Terrorism” so, how do we describe them from our view points as Ghanaians? Two innocent men being at the wrong place at the wrong time? One cannot determine that neither; so we have to trust the judgement of our government and security agencies to continue keeping us safe by doing what they do best. Nations have very diverse views of who is a terrorist and who is a justifiable opponent to a given government.

While all nations at least claim to oppose terrorism as they individually define it, they do not agree on who should be called a terrorist, on the relative priority for counterterrorism over human rights and civil liberties, or the priorities that should be given a specific threat. That’s why sweeping agreements and broad statements of good intentions are sometimes possible, but only because no one takes them seriously. Like any excise in diplomatic rhetoric, they survive the meeting that produces them and the public relation office that publicises them, but die upon engagement with reality.

The canon of terrorist activities in 2015, have been long and grim. In any given month, people have been killed in the name of an insidious ideology. In January, an estimated, 2000 were massacred in Baga, Nigeria; a car bomb killed 38 in Sana’s Yemen; and over 60 were slaughtered while praying in a mosque in Shikarpur, Pakistan. In June, more than 300 were executed or maimed in attacks in the Diffa region in Niger, in Kuwait, and Sousse, Tunisia. And in November, nearly 2000 died at the hands of terrorists in Sarajevo, Beirut, and Paris.

Then as December began, there was the mass shooting in San Bernardo, California. This spreading terror is not confined to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, it is a global problem. ISIS, al Qaeda, lone wolf and their surrogates pose an existential threat because they accelerate the collapse of world order, provoke domestic and global trends that endangers our values and ways of life as a civilised society.

For that reason, the International community needs a comprehensive strategy to defeat such extremism-one in which, force, diplomacy, development and co-operation all coming together to achieve a more stable world. This is where Ghana has been called upon to be part of this strategy which we must all be proud of. The most urgent pillar of this strategy is dismantling ISIS and it other terror related affiliates, which must be eliminated not just in Syria and Iraq, but also in Libya and everywhere else it operates.

The debate about how to do it should not centre on “boots on the ground”. All must do what is necessary to defeat a group that has seized territory in five countries, declared it a new state and ruled by fanatical ideologues. Because ISIS and other terrorist groupings cannot be negotiated out of existence, hence broad grouping of allies-with the right political will and strategy to defeat it everywhere. Ghana housing these two men is part of that strategy which we as Ghanaians must accept and contribute our quota as members of the international community.

The level of professionalism opens our shores up as the preferred place of investment and more also solidifies our country as the “Gate way to Africa”. We Ghanaians must also come to the realisation that International terrorism is a now a new normality and not a new phenomenon. We need a systematic action plan against ISIS and other terrorist organisations through a combination of hard and soft approaches as well as intelligence cooperation. Absolute reliance on a hard action to fight against a group that have no respect to international laws and treaties is hardly effective.

Ghanaians have faced terrorist threats and acts before notably during the contestation for political space during the first republic so this concept is not new but rather has become every day norm that is going to live with us in our front rooms till the arrival of a new miracle where innocent people will not be maimed and scared by ill-minded ideologues. One area is when cooperation in counterterrorism deals with well focused efforts between groups of nations that really do share a common view of the threat and give it enough priority to really cooperate. A careful focus on the agreed threats is critical, and so is tailoring that focuses to avoid difference in national interest and sensitivities over intelligence and politics.

In many cases, this means the details of such cooperation are at least partially secret. There is little point in giving such details to the terrorist target, or inviting outside challenges and criticism-particularly when there are serious national differences over other issues or how counterterrorism should be conducted. Another area of cooperation of practical cooperation in dealing with violent actors where nations have not begun to use such actors as proxies to serve their own interest. Nations can disagree about given political movements and groups, but once an organisation or individual poses a broad threat of violence and acts upon it, they become easier targets to agree upon.

This is particularly true of extremist movements where no state shares the same ideology or goals. Aum Shinrikyo was a good case in point. A third area deals with prevention, although cooperation here again requires some degree of common interest. Flagging, known individual terrorists, flights and airport security, halting the movement of foreign “volunteers” blocking transfer of money and the sale of explosive and other tools of terrorism across borders can sometimes work. Once again, however, much depends on state to state relations and common views of the value of counterterrorism versus civil liberties.

A fourth area of cooperation lies in supporting agreed areas of cooperation in the UN, Interpol, and other international efforts. These efforts generally involve very specific area of action that do not present the same challenges as bi/multilateral, regional, or global agreements that have to deal with controversial targets and threats. It should also be seen as a viable path to advancing the “prevent strategy” where Ghana will be no way considered as a launching pad for terrorism and extremism. But victory over ISIS and other terrorist organisation will be only first albeit essential. Step to a just outcome in Syria and other hot spots, means a settlements that allows countries to progress and fully respect its minorities. Such a result will require leverage at the negotiating table, which is why helping our allies across the globe is essential.

Ghanaians are allowed to express fear with Ghana hosting these two detainees. Fear is healthy. Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat. It is a natural human emotion and God-given basic survival mechanisms that keeps alive and protect us from danger but for that fear to be exploited as being done be some respected bodies and other academics, civil societies and various epistemic societies is an unhealthy one. We should also know that the President have been a real advocator of the rule of law and fundamental human right.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has remarked on several occasions when the world is listening most; about ongoing hostilities in the middle East especially Palestine–Israeli crisis, instabilities within the West African sub-region and his formidable contribution during his recent meeting in Malta, and more importantly his meetings on security and cooperation with the French President François Holland and his European counterparts. One can assure the masses and also believe that, the signatories to this very important agreement have undertaken thorough risk assessments with the country deemed fit and have the right structures in place to contain these two detainees.

Our President will not take any decision that will endanger citizen’s lives knowing his care and love of his citizen and mother Ghana for that matter. Moreover, ISIS and its affiliates are merely the most virulent manifestation of an extremism that has affected the World for decades. We must all construct an international force able to fight extremist wherever and whenever they try to gain foothold. To this end, I will suggest an internationally agreed commitment to education; each and every country has the responsibility to promote cultural and religious tolerance and to eradicate cultural and religious prejudice within its educational system. We must also support those who confront extremist doctrines.

Many brave and serious theologians-like our very own Sheikh Nuru Shaributu of Ghana, Cairo’s al-Azhar mosque or Mauritania’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah-are showing how the true teaching of Islam leads to reconciliation with the modern world. To remove the danger of terrorist threats coming to our shores as result of housing these two detainees and other jihadi terrorism, abstract arguments are not enough; we need a strategy for defeating it.

The challenge in my view is underscored by the fact that the jihadi phenomenon has been with us for more than generation. Indeed, gaining a proper understanding of it may be impossible. But the attempt must be made. It also important to note those orchestrating these barbaric acts are operating from a position of weakness. Whilst it is spreading fear in the world, its hold on its home ground is weakening. The United Nation Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution against it, and their leaders are aware that their days in certain countries are numbered.

This alliance with our religious leaders who are prepared to lead a fight against the perversion of their faith is crucial. But if we needed another reminder-the November 13 carnage in Paris, Mali and recently Ouagadougou our neighbours and other parts of the world showed the futility needs hands on approach and as Ghanaians, we must be part of this important journey in making the world a safer place for ourselves, our children and future generations through Co-operation and fulfilling our part of the bargain.

The fight against extremism will require force and cooperation. But it will require education too so that those coming into our country understands why our values matters, why we will defend them and why such cooperation is important and required. Sending them back to their former holding places is not going to achieve anything new nor provide any information not already known about them as being advocated by sections of our society. Alienating them from main stream society is a recipe to fuse up their ideological thoughts, an indication of encouragement to melt back into their alleged previous radical and violent ways which defeats the prevent strategy or radicalisation.

Defeating terrorist groups must be a global undertaking because terror groups are a global threat and Ghana as a country is not immune either by hosting these detainees or not. Any nation that cares about the safety of its people or the future of its civilisation must continue to contribute their quota to this course which the United States of America has vowed to fight from any corner of the globe. We as Country must step up and not only be free loaders. Such contribution could result in the acceleration of our own efforts in disrupting networks that enable the free flow of foreign fighters and materials through our borders and other entry points before it becomes a serious threat.

Housing these detainees and engaging with them, creates a sense of belongingness and shared identity leading to a reduction in real and perceived isolation, integration into the community to reduce isolation, reduction in community division, improving educational attainments, reducing their experience of discrimination, increase political participation a sense of empowerment, increase the resilience of key institutions vulnerable to radicalisation, reduce attraction of extremist groups and their messages and reduce criminality with target groupings. With the entire above taking place within the community, government will also be easing these strategies into its containment care plan which reduces any internal and external threats.

Furthermore, government needs to have distinct approaches to engagement for counter-polarisation and counter-radicalisation purposes. Whilst efforts of tackling polarisation are going to have a positive long lasting impact on radicalisation, their success will be inhibited if conducted through the lens of religious intolerance and heavy handed iron cast security measures. This will immediately reinforce the even power dynamics between government and citizen, which can hamper efforts at partnership and risk leaving communities more marginalised and fragile rather than empowered and included.

Government must also be mindful of who engages our communities and citizens on this counter radicalisation work. Heavy involvement of the police and intelligence agencies/officers in integration work, for example, is not only inappropriate, but reinforces suspicion on the part of communities that are under surveillance and undermines government messages about partnership. Much more work is needed to enhance the knowledge base, share case studies, apply lessons learned and transfer good practice.

In conclusion, it is a fight that we will win. Radical fanatics who want to end our civilization are corrupting their religion. They will succeed at neither. The overwhelming majority of people in Ghana wish to coexist as it has been from time immemorial. With our support and determination, the spirit of peace-above, ideology, politics or religion will prevail.