A security analyst, Mr Paul Boateng is advocating ushers in churches undergo security training following a terror attack alert by the Africa Center for Security and Intelligence Studies.
The security agency claimed a terrorist group, Salafi-Jihadist is planning to attack churches in Ghana and Togo after a successful attack in some churches in Burkina Faso.
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They said members of Salafi-Jihadist group have been moving in and
out of Ghana’s border for the past four months with their major targets being churches
in the Northern region while the terrorists are likely to operate from mining
zones.
Due to the porous nature of security in most Ghanaian churches, Mr Boateng is urging churches to be on red alert.
Since church ushers are the first contact to anyone who enters the auditorium, he is convinced if given some security training on counter-terrorism, they can avert any bomb attack.
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Mr Boateng bemoaned how churches in Ghana depend largely on spiritual protection, thus, usually little or no forms of access controls before entering the auditorium.
The security analyst said gone are the days when churches were regarded as safe havens or sanctuaries of God.
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“Churches are now attractive targets of attack by terror groups due to the large crowd and limited protection measures,” he stated.
Mr Boateng urged churches to make a conscious effort to improve security to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks on churches.
Source: Ghana|Adomonline.com|Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman