The Ministry for National Security has launched a National Security Strategy.

According to the sector Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, the National Security strategy, drafted by a multi-sectorial working group, will help coordinate efforts in addressing issues of common concern across the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking at the ceremony to launch the document Monday, June 7, he said, “I am happy to announce that this document has been reviewed by all the relevant stakeholders, my internal and external security experts, who have ensured that the document met the international standards and fit for the purpose.”
He revealed that the Ministry will work diligently in line with the dictates of the national security strategy, to ensure that Ghana remains safe and secure with due regard to the respect and dignity of the citizens that we serve.

This comes after the National Security Ministry found itself in the news since May 11, when its operatives allegedly physically abused a Citi FM journalist at their premises.

The Ministry later released a statement justifying its action. It explained that the journalist gained access to a security zone through false pretences.

Kan Dapaah stated that former security Ministers, former national security coordinators, civil society organizations, academia and other individuals have all contributed immensely to the development of the national security strategy to ensure the document is in the interest of all Ghanaians.

He assured Ghanaians that the swift implementation of the document, launched by President Akufo-Addo, will help to decisively mitigate new and emerging threats.

“May I assure all Ghanaians that we pledge to respect the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and freedoms of all Ghanaians as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana but let me also caution that the respect for human rights can not, must not be compromised with strategic threats to national security”
“Let us all agree that without a secure, without a safe environment in the country, we cannot pursue development and for that matter, government may not be able to improve living conditions of our people,” he added.

Present at the launch of the National Security Strategy was President Akufo-Addo. The President used the occasion to commission a newly-constructed building for the Ministry of National Security.

President Akufo-Addo expressed his satisfaction that the National Security Ministry “has decided to name this new building after one of its most hardworking leaders, the late National Security Co-ordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh, who died so tragically early whilst in office, and was laid to rest a few days ago”.

He underscored the importance of the National Security Strategy, “the document is necessary for the existence of Ghana’s National Security architecture.”
President Akufo-Addo added that the overarching vision of the National Security Strategy is to maintain Ghana as an open, tolerant, socially cohesive, peace-loving, people-centred, secure, united and prosperous constitutional democracy that upholds the rule of law.

“The National Security Strategy also aims to establish Ghana as a land of opportunities, with the resolve and the capability to protect her people, her culture and her values, to spur growth, development and prosperity that inure to the well-being of her people, whilst positioning the country to play a meaningful and influential role at regional, continental and global levels,” the President said.

Read Kan Dapaah’s full statement below:

Indeed without the resolve, the commitment and the leadership of these personalities together with others. This conducive working environment for the staff of the ministry would not have been achieved and how unfortunate it is that one of the main architects of the idea, the Late (Joshua Tcheremi) is not present to share in our joy.

Your excellency, over the years, the various ministries, departments and agencies in Ghana operated without any concerted national security strategy. This brought about uncoordinated efforts in addressing issues of common concern. Your excellency, to resolve this concern and following the directive that you gave to us, a multisectorial working group was established to draft a national security strategy and it is worth emphasizing that the national security strategy which would be launched today is the outcome of sleepless nights of the working group.

I am happy to announce that this document has been reviewed by all the relevant stakeholders, my internal and external security experts, who have ensured that the document met the international standards and fit for the purpose.

I’m particularly grateful for the willingness with which former security capols from both sides of our political divide display in helping us to produce this document.

I wish to use this opportunity to thank individual (…..), former security ministers, former national security coordinators, civil society organizations, the academia and other individuals who have contributed immensely to the production of the national security strategy and above all, our thanks goes to the leadership of the parliament of Ghana, as well as members of the defence and interior committee of parliament for the interest that they showed in this project and the (pain sticking) efforts that they made to ensure that this document is as good as it has turned out to be.

Your Excellency, I want to stress that although Ghana continues to be horouded as a beacon of peace in Africa, we must not rest on our odds. Evidently, the first that confronted us as a country decades ago have evolved faster and with greater intensity than anticipated and this your excellency underscored the need for the swift implementation of the national security strategy to decisively mitigate new and emerging threats and may i assure all Ghanaians that we pledge to respect the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and freedoms of all Ghanaians as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana but let me also caution that the respect of human rights can not, must not be compromised with strategic threats to national security and let us all agree that without a secure, without a safe environment in the country, we can not pursue development and for that matter government may not be able to improve living conditions of our people.

There must therefore be a balance of issues of National security and the respect of human rights.

Your excellency, due to the personal commitment that you devoted to the development of this document and the desire to see to it’s full implementation, we found it most expedient for you to be present today to outdoor all important document and your excellency on behalf of the entire staff of the ministry of national security, I express my profound gratitude to you for first providing all the support needed for creation of the national security strategy and the construction of a new (edifis) for the ministry and also your excellency for gracing this occasion.

We at the ministry of national security can only repay you for this gesture by working diligently in line with the dictates of the national security strategy, to ensure that Ghana remains safe and secure and with due regard to the respect and dignity of the citizens that we serve.