The underlying cause of conflict or crime is lack of development. Development can only happen when there's Human security. As opposed to state/national security which focuses on protecting itself from internal and external threats by using police, military and private security.
Human Security should provide freedoms for people:
- Freedom from want (Development)
- Freedom from indignity (Human rights)
- Freedom from fear (Peace and security)
When either of these freedoms are threatened we have some form of conflict in our society.
There are 7 Human security areas our government needs to look at holistically failing which we will be a bonafide failed state.
- Food Security
- Economic Security
- Health Security
- Environmental Security
- Personal Security
- Political Security
- Community Security
If we were asked to assess and rate these areas objectively where 1 = poor 5=average 10=excellent. How would Ghana do?
Our security issues isn't just about police lacking armament and vehicles, our National security rests on all these 7 factors highlighted above.
The knee jerk response to any crises in this country is procurement. We throw money at our problems and make civil servants and politicians rich through the process.
We need to stop and do a proper assessment of our issues and tackle them holistically with qualified people.
Until we tackle the root causes of all the 7 Human security areas, we will continue to go around in circles.
My concern is that we may not have the human capital to understand the import of this or the capacity to draw up concrete plans to address these issues holistically.
When our Government begins to change its approach by tackling human security, most of these issues we are facing will minimize. The security of the Ghanaian citizens is paramount, until we tackle this canker holistically, I fear that we should brace ourselves, because it will only get worse.
Have you Ever wondered why we aren't developing at the trajectory we should? Now you know...
The Question is what are we going to do about it as CITIZENS?