President Akufo-Addo cuts the tape to symbolise the commissioning of the new National Security Ministry
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday commissioned a newly-constructed building for the Ministry of National Security. The event coincided with the launch of the National Security Strategy document, the first of its kind in the history of the country.
The National Security Strategy document, according to the President, is necessary for the existence of Ghana’s National Security architecture.
Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo stressed 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.
He expressed satisfaction about the fact 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”.
“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,” he said.
“Once operationalised, the Strategy will optimise the effectiveness of the security and intelligence sector, by revamping current systems and structures. The Strategy will prioritise the effective use of resources to promote effective decision-making, through an institutional system that will ensure integrated and efficient co-ordination in all spectrums of national security,” he added.
Institutional structure
The Strategy, President Akufo-Addo noted, will provide a new institutional structure which will be equipped to confront threats through rapid, coordinated and comprehensive responses.
He explained that the implementation of the National Security Strategy would be driven systematically, transparently and accountably to ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) achieve their expected outcomes, which would contribute significantly to enhancing the country’s cohesion, resilience and stability.
With the National Security Council providing strategic direction for the implementation of the National Security Strategy, the President said the Minister of National Security shall be responsible to the National Security Council for the day-to-day coordination of activities geared towards the successful implementation of the National Security Strategy.
Security and Intelligence Agencies Act
President Akufo-Addo revealed further that the new Security and Intelligence Agencies Act (Act 1030) has made provision for the creation of a Ministerial Security Coordinating Committee, which comprises the Ministers of National Security, Defence, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice and Communications and Digitization.
“Indeed, the multifaceted nature of the National Security Strategy, which assigns different roles to the various Ministries and Agencies, underscores the need for extensive education and sensitisation on the content of the Strategy,” he said.
He, thus, tasked the Minister of National Security to organise workshops for all Ministers, Regional Security Councils, the leadership and Members of Parliament, members of the Judiciary, religious leaders, the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs, civil society organizations, youth and women groups, and various educational institutions to deepen their understanding of their roles in the implementation of the strategy.
“I acknowledge that on matters regarding the implementation of strategies that are beneficial to the State, resource allocation and budgetary funding is key. Informed by this, the National Security Strategy requires the Minister for Finance to collaborate with the Minister for National Security to establish a Security Fund to support the implementation of the Strategy in emergency and crises,” he added.
United Ghana
To enhance the implementation of the National Security Strategy, the President said, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are to make specific budgetary provisions for the allocation of funds in the national budget.
“I have directed the Ministry of National Security to come up with revised timelines for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to develop their specific strategies, frameworks, policies and action plans per the National Security Strategy,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo is certain that “if we set our hearts and minds to this, and focus our energies on implementing successfully the National Security Strategy, we shall succeed in creating a more cohesive, inclusive, peaceful, progressive, prosperous, stable and united Ghana”.
