ADVERTISEMENT

Boko Haram In Ghana: Security Expert Goof Over Billboards?

How could the erection of billboards in Accra by leading political parties in Nigeria possibly lead to the creation of a Boko Haram uprising in Ghana?

Some billboards of Nigerian political contenders including President Goodluck Jonathan and opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari have been splashed at various points in Ghana only to attract the attention of Nigeria residents living in Ghana.

This, some security experts say is a threat to the peace and tranquillity of Ghana with some calling on city authorities to expedite action in removing these giants’ billboards.

Some political pundits have also shared fears that the erection of these billboards could call the attention of the terrorist group.

But how realistic could mounting of billboards cause fear and panic and security threat?

ADVERTISEMENT

A security expert, Dr Kwesi Ennin, of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, has hinted that Ghana has been saved from a possible attack by terrorist group Boko Haram by pulling down billboards put up in some parts of Accra.

An order by the National Security, directed the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to pull down the billboards of Nigerian Presidential candidate, General Mohammed Buhari and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

The billboards located near the Accra mall, Dzorwulu and Osu were pulled down over the weekend.

He said political elites in the country could have been targeted by Boko Haram if the political campaign in Ghana was not stopped.

However, Pulse.com.gh hit the street of Accra to sought the views of Ghanaians how billboards could cause a Boko Haram in Ghana?

ADVERTISEMENT

According some Ghanaians, “Nigerians are our friends, because the two countries have a long standing relationship therefore it will be weird for billboards of Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari cause any security threat”.

On the contrary, the Executive Director of the Advertisers Association of Ghana, Mr Francis Dadzie, said politicians were not the ones who erected the billboards but were only taking advantage of a platform provided to reach their target, which was not wrong.“The only wrong would have been if the messages were offensive,” he stated.“I don’t think the billboards were put up by the Nigerians. They were rented out by the advertising agency that put up the structure,” he added.Mr Dadzie asked people to keep an open mind, saying Ghanaians were being paranoid over the issue.“We are looking at the Representation of the People’s Amendment Law, (ROPAL), where Ghanaians outside can vote. It will come to a time when we have to reach out to people out there,” he cautioned, adding, “We should look at the bigger picture in the spirit of ECOWAS.”

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT