Interior Minister urges MMDCEs to take greater responsibility for local security

Story by: Regina Bless

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take greater responsibility for security within their respective jurisdictions.

According to the Minister, maintaining peace and preventing crime should not be left entirely to the traditional security agencies. He said local authorities also have an important role to play in identifying and addressing security threats in their communities.

Mr. Muntaka stressed the importance of early reporting, timely intelligence gathering and effective information sharing between MMDCEs and security agencies.

He explained that because local authorities are closer to residents, they are often in a better position to identify emerging security concerns and alert the appropriate institutions before they escalate.

The Interior Minister made the call in Kumasi during a High-Level Training Programme on Ghana’s Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2024 (Act 1168), organised for MMDCEs.

He called for stronger coordination among the various security institutions, warning against fragmentation and emphasising that information sharing is key to effective security management.

Mr. Muntaka also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Police Service, Fire Service, National Security and the National Signal Bureau in responding to threats, including activities carried out on social media.

The training programme was designed to improve MMDCEs’ understanding of Act 1168 and strengthen cooperation between local government authorities and Ghana’s security and intelligence agencies.

The Minister’s message is that security is a shared responsibility, and effective collaboration between local authorities, security agencies and communities is essential to preventing crime and maintaining peace.