AU appoints Ghanaian to head Counter Terrorism efforts

AU appoints Ghanaian to head Counter Terrorism efforts

The African Union (AU) has appointed a former National Security Coordinator of Ghana, Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, as Special Representative in charge of Counter-Terrorism Cooperation.

He would concurrently serve as the Director of the Algiers based African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT).

The appointed was contained in a statement issued by the AU on friday.

#AU Appoints Mr. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey of #Ghana as Special Representative in charge of Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Director of #ACSRT

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) March 18, 2016

The appointement of the well versed security chief the statement said, ‘‘comes at a time when the African Union is strengthening its efforts in the prevention and combating of terrorism, in line with the Communiqué of the 455th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) that was held on 2nd September 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Level of Heads of State and Government.’‘

Mr Gbevlo-Lartey’s job would be to coordinate and ensure effective implementation of the AU’s plans and programs in preventing and combating terrorism and also mobilizing international support in that regard.

News in: Fmr NSC Larry Gbevlo Lartey gets AU appointment as special rep on Counter terrorism pic.twitter.com/A6PM6DkzgX

— KABA (@Kojokaba) March 18, 2016

He brings extensive years of experience in combating crime, having worked in different capacities with continental and global security institutions in the area peacekeeping, counter terrorism and security.

The African Union has had to condemn two major terrorist attacks on the continent in the recent past among them, the Grand Bassam beach resort attack in the Ivory Coast which claimed 22 lives whem Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) sent three assailants on rampage.

The AU also joined condemnation of the Wednesday dawn attack on worshippers in a mosque at Umarari in Maiduguri, capital of Nigeria’s Borno State and birthplace of the Boko Haram insurgency.