In Ghana’s respond to request from ECOWAS to send Ghanaian troops to Mali, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Ghana, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called on the country’s leadership and the entire security apparatus to be high alert to prevent possible reprisal attacks.

According to the researcher, Ghana could also face possible rebel groups attack as the country provides troops support for Mali.

Speaking to Citi FM in Accra, Dr. Antwi-Danso cautioned that Ghana should be security alert in anticipation of any heat if the Islamists decide to turn the heat on countries providing troops.

“The security should be alert, it is not only the adjoining countries; Baukina Faso, Mauritania and others that should be very much worried, all other countries because the insurgents could try to operate from any other country.

“Ghanaians are not security conscious so we don't have to let down our security alert,” he reiterated.

He, however, stated that the country could not have remained indifferent in sending troops to Mali to control the Islamists, saying “we have no choice, we can't be indifferent, we are part of the ECOWAS and ECOWAS means integration; once you sign on to an international treaty you have to obey its tenets and you are part of it.”

On his part, Dr. Emmanuel Bombande has added that countries in the ECOWAS sub region should work towards curbing the extremism which is rapidly spreading in the sub region.

He said that will prevent a replica of the Mali crisis in other ECOWAS countries.