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Heads of the various security agencies have been summoned by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and the Interior to appear before it and state what measures have been put in place to prevent terrorist attacks in Ghana.

The summons come in the wake of the recent attacks on holiday resorts frequented by foreigners in Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Fritz Baffuor, told the Daily Graphic that the date for their appearance had not been decided yet but added that by today the committee would have fixed a date for their appearance.

Background

Six gunmen opened fire on civilians at an Ivorian beach resort in Grand Bassam,  a province in the southern part of the country, last Sunday killing 16 people.

The 16 people, made up of 14 civilians and two special forces persons, were killed before the six gunmen were shot down by security forces.

An Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group claimed responsibility for the act.

On January 15, 2016,  gunmen armed with heavy weapons attacked the Cappuccino Restaurant in Splendid  Hotel in the heart of Ouagadougou,  Burkina Faso.

The number of fatalities reached 30 while at least 56 were wounded.

Since those attacks, Ghanaian security experts and members of the general public have emphasised the need for the country to take measures to guard against any terrorist attacks that would be carried out along those lines.