Ghana steps up security amid Islamist terror attacks on neighbours

Ghana is stepping up security measures, immigration officials said Friday, following reports that Islamist terrorists could target the country after attacks in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

The country is increasing border patrols and cooperation among security agencies, said Francis Palmdeti, director of public affairs for Ghana Immigration Service.

Immigration authorities are also stepping up collaboration with managers of hotels, lodges and guest houses to obtain information on foreigners coming to the country, Palmdeti said.

The spokesman did not comment on an intelligence memo allegedly leaked to the media that warned Ghana and Togo could be Islamist terrorists’ next targets.

The memo reportedly referred to the confessions of a Malian terrorist suspect who was interrogated by Ivorian authorities after an attack last month on Grand-Bassam, a popular tourist destination, that killed 22 people.

In January, about 30 people were killed in an attack on a cafeteria in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.

Ghana could be targeted to show that the Islamists do not attack only French-speaking countries, the website citifmonline quoted the memo as saying.

President John Dramani Mahama expressed disappointment in the country’s national security apparatus for circulating detailed intelligence on possible terrorist attacks, asking Ghanaians to stay calm.

“I think that we must deal with this without creating panic among our people, and that is why the stories that we see in the papers are most unfortunate,” the website quoted the president as saying.