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Terror threat: Security agencies meet churches

The security agencies will Thursday meet the leadership of the Christian community to discuss how to enhance security at the various churches in the wake of the terrorism threat alert on the country.

Ahead of the meeting, some churches have begun the process to improve security on their church premises, as well as arm their members with personal security tips.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council  (GPCC), Rev Emmanuel Barrigah, confirmed that the council had received an invitation from the National Security for discussions in relation to the terrorism threat alert.

However, he said, the council had already sent notices to their member churches to beef up security and also educate their members to be security conscious, vigilant and watch out for suspicious characters.

Rev Barrigah said the council would liaise with the security agencies to provide training for church workers.

Three terror attacks in two weeks targeting Christian worshippers in Ghana’s northern neighbour, Burkina Faso, have revived concerns about the country’s preparedness to contain similar attacks.

In one of the attacks on Sunday, a gunman killed a Catholic priest and five parishioners.

The Africa Center for Security and Intelligence Studies (ACSIS) has issued a security alert that the group has been moving in and out of Ghana through the border with Burkina Faso over the past four months.

Some churches in Ghana have begun beefing up internal security processes in the wake of the threats.

At the Action Faith Ministries International in Accra, congregants are screened at all entrances before they get access to the compound and the church auditorium.

Resident pastor, Bishop Ebenezer Obodai, explained that the church has intensified security measures to be able to tackle the terror threat.

Meanwhile, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has urged Muslims to report strangers who come into their communities with views that do not conform to the teachings of Islam to the security agencies.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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