The “See Something, Say Something” campaign, seeks to sensitise the community, especially in border areas, to be observant of their environment and report any suspicious characters in their midst.

It forms part of a strategy launched two years ago to keep at bay the spillover of ‘Jihadists’ that had wreaked havoc on lives and property in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Speaking to journalists here at Sapeliga in the Bawku West Dis­trict after addressing community members at the Sapeliga Chief ’s Palace, Ms Akosua Danquah Ntim Sekyere, Coordinator of the campaign, said the initiative was very necessary as the country was close to the December 7 general election.

She explained that the campaign targeted the communities along the borders because the issue of “porous borders” posed security concerns for the country, especial­ly in the run-up to the polls.

Ms Sekyere reiterated the call for community folks to be “very observant and report suspicious characters” to the police for the necessary action.

She also urged the people to call the official number ‘999’ when they suspected the movement of some foreigners with ‘dubious’ character traits in the country, and who were likely to cause the infiltration of Jihadists’ activities in the country.

The Coordinator of the “SSSS” expressed worry that some Gha­naians had taken delight to prank the security by frequently calling on the number, saying “it is very worrying because we are dealing with a security issue which is deli­cate, so people should not engage on such frivolous acts.”

The Bawku West District is currently hosting about 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Burkina Faso who fled the country, following attacks carried by the insurgents in their commu­nities.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Daniel Ata­mpuba Anania, said the phenom­enon of porous borders, coupled with the huge number of the ref­ugees could be a threat to security if the security personnel in Zebila and its surroundings did not live up to their responsibilities.

Additionally, he indicated that the patronage of the two biggest markets in the district, Zebilla and Bugri markets, by the foreign nationals called for more security visibility and proactiveness from the country’s security apparatus.

He lauded the delegation from the National Security for their consistent efforts in ensuring the security in the country was not comprised, adding “the routine sensitisation is apt and just, and I will galvanise the stakeholders here to collaborate your efforts”.

The Divisional Chief of Sapeli­ga, Naba Emmanuel Ayagiba Abangiba, said the influx of for­eign nationals in the district could threaten the relative peace of the area, and it was high time the security rose to nip in the bud any breaches of security in the area.

He advised his people against accepting visitors with question­able characters from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo, vowing to crack the whip on any indigene who flouted the directive.

The delegation included Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ajibadeck, Upper East Regional Security Liaison Officer; Warrant Officer Class I Francis Baba, and Jacob Amoak from the Ghana Immigration Service.