Security analyst, Dr Kwesi Aning, is warning of possible unrest in Ghana if the intended nationwide strike and demonstrations by organized labour is not controlled.
He cautioned that the perception that the country cannot be plunged into a conflict situation is not correct and must be done away with.
The Trades Union Congress on Tuesday announced a nationwide strike by workers on November 18, if government fails to review prices of utilities announced on October 1.
Dr Aning who is the Head of Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, has charged security agencies to “track known provocateurs who move from one country in West Africa to the other to hijack” such legitimate demonstrations.
Kwesi Aning told Joy News although strike is a legitimate right of organized labour, simultaneous “strikes across the country, with the limited number of police officers” will be difficult to police.
He called for talks ahead of the strikes to ensure that “things don’t get out of hand”.
He reminded all that the sub region has become “extremely dangerous”, pointing out that there are people lurking around vulnerable countries to “exploit such situations of instability for their parochial interest”.
He stated that there are instances where political disturbance in countries on the continent were hijacked by unscrupulous persons for other ends, warning, “we shouldn’t think it can’t happen here”.
It is important for organized labour, Police Service and Immigration Service to work together to ensure people do not infiltrate their ranks, he reiterated.
Dr Aning cited Mali as a case in point. It was farfetched for Mali, seen as one of the most stable democratic countries in West Africa, to be wrecked by deadly war.
Internally, he said, persons on strike must also be protected by the security agencies to ensure that those who are even against the strike do not attack them with counter demonstrations.
But the concern is that it will be very difficult for the police to provide adequate protection, he noted, and prayed for negotiations to resume to ensure that Ghana remains a stable country.
Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga, appealed to the “good conscience” of workers to stay their action to avoid government business being shut down.
Though he is uncertain if the police can deploy enough personnel across the country for the nationwide demonstration by organized labour, he was sure the country’s security would not be compromised should the strike take place.
Source: GhanaWeb
