The suspects. INSET: The deadly weapons hidden in bags of cola nuts
There could not have been a better way of displaying the country’s vulnerability than seeing the kind of weapons busted in Kumasi a couple of days ago.
Ghanaians who saw the picture of the 9 AK 47s, a loaded Berreta pistol and 281 rounds of ammunition, could not help but ask how safe they are in a country which has known relative peace since independence but for the pockets of mayhem in some parts.
Questions about the country’s safety are legitimate given what has befallen nearby countries where perhaps things were taken for granted not only by those at the helm but the citizenry.
Lessons abound for us to muse over regarding the drawbacks of following in the paths of such neighbours who have paid dearly for doing so.
Security experts have times without number called on us all to be wary about the possibility of weapons being brought into the country from states which have just come out of civil strife.
Given the sophisticated weapons which have been seized in conflict areas of the country and even from armed robbers, we can conclude that such firearms have really landed in Ghana.
The Customs officials who undertook the operation at Asawase, Kumasi where the weapons had been discharged and put in cola-containing sacks, must be congratulated for the feat.
But the biggest salutations should go to the ordinary Ghanaian who blew the whistle which has saved the country from unnecessary security ado, especially as we approach elections and in the face of chieftaincy and land challenges in some parts of the country.
We have learnt that the weapons could have been heading for Bawku or other conflict zones in the country, a possibility which saddens our hearts.
Why people would want to destroy their own country for petty reasons is beyond our ken, and this makes us wonder whether such persons appreciate fully the repercussions of their actions.
The support of the public in maintaining security in the country cannot be overlooked. We must all join hands with the security agencies in thwarting the efforts of diabolic persons for whom the national interest is of no consequence.
Trust should permeate such cooperation between the security agencies especially the Police and members of the public, as this could lead to more tip-offs.
