Teachers urged to lead in ‘See something, Say something’ campaign
The Ministry of National Security has called on teachers across the country to actively participate in the sensitisation of the public on threats of terrorism facing the country and help to protect the country against terrorist attacks.
They have, therefore, been charged to partner the Ministry in the citizens' awareness campaign dubbed ‘See something, Say something’ which encourages the public to be vigilant against the activities of suspicious characters and report such persons to security agencies.
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The campaign forms part of the ministry’s broader counter-terrorism strategy aimed at sensitising the public to terrorism threats and encouraging citizens to collaborate with state security agencies to reduce the threat of terrorism on Ghana following recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries.
Engagement
The call was made in Accra yesterday[May 26, 2022] during an engagement between the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) on the See something, Say something campaign and the country’s strategy to address heightened security threats.
The National Security Coordinator, Major General Francis Adu Amanfo (retd), said teachers were critical agents of development and nation building who could help in averting the threats and promote safety and security of the citizenry by educating pupils, students and the larger population on emerging security threats and potential breaches that had the potential of undermining national security.
Teachers, he said, "are critical nation builders. If Ghana can be successful in its measures against terrorism, it would require the active involvement of teachers in educating the public. Teachers play a cardinal role in nation building and national development," he said.
Surge in extremism
Major General Amanfo (retd) said due to the recent surge in extremism, violent groups, coup d’etats, cyber fraud, transnational organised crime, piracy and other security threats in the West African sub-region, there was the need to raise consciousness about the threats to keep the public alert.
National cake
National President of GNAT, Rev. Dr Isaac Owusu, who expressed concern about the distribution of national resources, said: “Ghana’s terrorism threat will be heightened if people feel they have been neglected in the distribution of the national cake.”
Assurance
The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musa, said the association had members across the country who played an important role in shaping the mindset of their pupils and students to become responsible adults.
Targeting teachers to lead in the "See something, Say something'' campaign, he said was strategic as when children were sensitised to be vigilant against the activities of suspicious characters they could pass on the knowledge to their parents, other family members and society as a whole to help protect national integrity.
