Terrorism: Ghana Must Change Its Attitude Towards Smuggling & Smugglers

Author's note:  This was written on 17/1/2013. It is being posted today because I was unable to do so on the day.




Now that it has been confirmed that Ghana will be contributing troops to the Economic Community of West African States'  (ECOWAS) military mission to help Mali rid itself of Islamic rebels in the north,  and enable the government in Bomako  regain the northern region seized by those rebels, the Ghanaian authorities and all Ghanaian citizens must change their attitude towards the nation-wrecking crime of  smuggling.


We must make it next to impossible for those who engage in smuggling to continue with their unlawful activities.


One of the ways we can do so is by making the arrest of smugglers and the seizure of smuggled goods financially rewarding - both for public officials and private individuals who help arrest smugglers.


Parliament must  quickly pass laws making smuggling and its abetting (which neatly ropes in those who drive vehicles involved in smuggling and their helper-assistants) a crime punishable by a mandatory prison term  of not less than 10  years.


The judiciary must be made to understand the new threat smugglers pose to the security of our nation and its people.


Islamic extremists looking to harm our country  will doubtless form  alliances  with smugglers -  and exploit their network of contacts in Ghana.

Most Ghanaians are aware of the harm caused by Islamic extremists in places like northern Nigeria and Somalia.


The time has come for those corrupt Ghanaian state officials who aid smugglers to understand that now that Ghana is a potential target for  retaliation by Islamic extremists, they  endanger the security  of the Ghanaian nation-state and the safety of ordinary people in Ghana, when they close their eyes to the activities of smugglers for private financial gain.

All those charged with protecting  our borders must undergo  re-orientation - one that makes them aware of their role as Ghana's first line of defence against terrorists from extremist Islamic organisations like Al Qaeda.


It is time those who  constitute the  government of the day and the relevant Parliamentary committees (and civil society groups) came together to find an effective means of combating smuggling.

Perhaps the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) should be given the task of planning and coordinating the  combating of smuggling by the Ghanaian nation-state -  a role  from which the military (as well as Customs,  Excise and Preventative Service of the Ghana Revenue Authority; the Ghana Immigration Service; and the Ghana Police Service)  could also derive  income, which they  can devote  to the welfare of their   officers and the rank and file.


Surely, in a nation with a high unemployment rate,  private bounty-hunters too  ought to be allowed  to foil smuggling - and be paid a percentage of  auctioned smuggled goods they enable the authorities seize?


If a law is passed making it mandatory for the state to seize and sell all vehicles and shipping containers  involved in smuggling, could  the proceeds not be paid into  a special fund -  from which  a percentage of  the money realised  will be paid  those who help   catch the smugglers who use those vehicles and containers to smuggle goods into and out of Ghana?


In rightly electing to help our sister nation of Mali defend herself from Islamic extremists, all of  West Africa faces a real threat from  Al Qaeda's surrogates in the sub-region.


The global war against terrorism has finally come to West Africa - and Ghana is located in that particular theatre of the war.


To stay relatively safe in this new era of terrorists and terrorism  not too far from  our doorstep -  literally -  the authorities in Ghana and the citizenry must change attitudes to smuggling and smugglers. A word to the wise...


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Email: peakofi.thompson@gmail.com