The National Signals Bureau has commissioned its Eastern Regional Office in Koforidua.
The facility is the first of four regional offices to be commissioned this year
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Interior Minister and Minister Responsible for National Security, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak described the state-of-the-art office as a testament to the government’s commitment to investing in modern tools for security and intelligence agencies.
“This state-of-the-art office in Koforidua is a testament to the unwavering commitment to investing in modern tools for the security and intelligence agencies by the Government of Ghana under the able leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama,” he stated.
The Minister noted that the facility has impressive surveillance capabilities.
“It has the surveillance capability to monitor CCTV feeds not only across eastern regions, but can also access a network of over 10,000 cameras nationwide, creating a seamless web of vigilance and intelligence,” he said.
He added that the facility is staffed with dedicated personnel to ensure operational security.
“It is staffed with a dedicated well-trained team of surveillance personnel, network maintenance engineers and cyber security experts, among others, ensuring our systems are not only operational but also secure from malicious access,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized that the facility has capability to monitor galamsey activities.
“Let me say here that what we have here has a huge capability of monitoring the galamsey activities and being able to chase the perpetrators and deal with them accordingly,” he said.
He explained that signal intelligence allows the National Security Bureau to lawfully intercept, analyze and interpret digital communications.
“In today’s world, criminals utilize digital tools, including mobile phone, the internet and various applications. Signal intelligence allows the nation’s security to lawfully intercept, analyze and interpret these digital communications,” he said.
The Minister noted that signal intelligence is a powerful tool that helps security agencies track criminals and disrupt their activities.
“It is a powerful tool that helps our security agencies to track the movement of kidnappers, dismantle networks of fraudsters, preempt armed robbery, and disrupt activities of transnational criminal organizations. And let me also add, equally disrupt the activities of galamsey operators when effectively utilizing,” he stated.
He added that the facility moves security operations from reactive to proactive prevention.
“It moves us from reactive security to proactive prevention. And that is something I contend to champion as the Minister for the Interior,” he said.
The Minister stated that the office will play a role in supporting the 24-hour economy policy by ensuring a secure environment for round-the-clock business activities.
He noted that the journey to the commissioning began in 2014 during the first administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
“We must acknowledge the foresight that laid the groundwork for the National Security Bureau’s project, initiated in 2014 during the first administration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, which laid the extensive backbone for the National Security Bureau we are seeing today,” he said.
The Minister added that the 2014 project provided the establishment of an ultra-modern Tier 3 data center supporting secure communication and surveillance structure.
“The project provided the establishment of an ultra-modern Tier 3 data center supporting secure, resilient and robust communication and surveillance structure, the first of its kind for any security agency in West Africa at the time,” he stated.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
