Heavy security presence at Eid celebration at Black Star Square
Heavy police and military presence characterised this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the Black Stars Square in Accra, where thousands of Muslims gathered to end the holy month of fasting.
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Armed police and military officers pitched camp at strategic locations across the square during the annual event to celebrate the Eid.
For the first time during an Eid celebration, there was a body scanner at the main entrance of the square, which people carrying bags were asked to pass through for security checks.
Security officers, with sniffer dogs, also roamed the event ground.
As if all this was not enough, armed police officers stopped and searched suspicious people as the country braces itself up to fight terrorism.
The arrangement, a police officer who had no authorisation to speak to the media said, had become necessary because of the threats of terror attacks and the fact that the President would be at the event.
The National Security Council, on March 17, 2016, issued a warning about a possible terror attack and asked Ghanaians to be wary and security-conscious.
Ever since Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire were attacked by terrorists earlier in the year, security at national functions has been intensified to ward off possible trouble makers.
Watching the youth
Concerned about the possible indoctrination of the country’s youth by extremists through social media, President John Dramani Mahama urged parents to keep a close eye on their children.
He chided extremism, saying it was alien to the Islamic faith, which put emphasis on peace and the fact that even during war women and children should not be harmed.
The President’s advice comes on the back of the confirmation by the National Security Co-ordinator, Mr Yaw Donkor, in August 2015 that two Ghanaians joined the terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Mr Donkor said per the records of the National Security, Nazir Nortei Alema, a 25-year-old graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and another person whom he identified only as Rafiq, had joined the group.
Foreign intelligence
In March this year, the US military restricted travel by its officers to Ghana and four other West African countries over fears of terror attacks.
The directive limited informal travel by the military personnel to Senegal, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
Navy Lt Cmdr Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for the US Africa Command, said, "It's just increased vigilance, given the recent events that have happened in that area of the world."
The order by the US against travelling to Ghana and other countries suspected to be susceptible to terror attacks was expected to be in force till June 30, 2016.
In September 2013, the UK government issued a red alert, warning of an impending terrorist attack on Ghana due to the country’s involvement in peace-keeping operations abroad.
According to the UK government, “there is an underlying threat from terrorism" targeted at US citizens travelling to Ghana.
Tolerance
In his sermon, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, called on the public to exercise restraint and tolerate one another ahead of the electioneering, which is characterised by heightened tension and anxiety.
He also appealed to all Muslims and Ghanaians in general “to maintain calm and desist from acts that will mar our peaceful co-existence”.
He advised the youth to “be vigilant and not allow yourselves to be exploited by persons wishing to fulfil their inordinate ambition through thuggery or other unlawful means”.
No refuse in drains
Sheikh Sharubutu also drew the attention of the public to the recurrent floods and urged the people to desist from throwing refuse into gutters.
He urged them to respect the bye-laws of the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
He had earlier led the gathering to pray for the peace of the country, leaders and the 2016 elections.
Apart from the tight security, the prayers and speeches, the faithful used the occasion to show off their taste in fashion.
Flowing robes of different colours, beautifully designed local fabrics and hairdos took centre stage at the event, which drew together thousands of Muslims from Accra and its suburbs.
Food and apparel vendors lined up the streets to ply their trade.
The Lions Club also mounted a stand where it screened the public for various health conditions.
