Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo Maafo, has revealed that Ghana faces the risk of a spillover effect due to terrorism and violent extremism in the West African sub-region.

According to him, what is worrying is the fact that the country’s neighbours being Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast have been severely hit by terrorists and extremist groups in recent times. He explained that the rapid spread of terrorism and extremism from the Sahel region is underpinned by the “quest of some terrorist groups to take control of resource-rich areas in the sub-region and gain access”.

“We as a country are in an extraordinary moment in history. The security situation in the sub-region is rapidly deteriorating due to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism. For the first time in history, Ghana faces a serious risk of a spillover effect. Data from latest reports of global terrorism index indicates that the Sahel region in West Africa has become the epicentre of terrorism center and violent extremism…”
Yaw Osafo-Maafo

Speaking at the launch of the Ministry of National Security’s Citizens Education Campaign against terrorism today, May 24, 2022, Mr Osafo-Maafo recounted that upon the attainment of independence which was achieved through the sacrifice and toil of Ghana’s forefathers, subsequent generations were tasked to one sacred “duty to at all times protect the peace, stability and territorial integrity” of the country. He explained that but for the extraordinary commitment of successive generations to this duty, Ghana would have “humbled to a number of turbulent events” in the past which threatened to undermine its peace and stability before, during and after independence.

“Our gathering here today therefore reminds us of our great sacrifices that our forebears made to keep this country safe. It provides yet another opportunity for us, who constitute the current generation, to renew our commitment to the holy duty assigned to us by our forebears.”
Yaw Osafo-Maafo

Safeguarding peace in the country

The Senior Presidential Advisor emphasized that the citizens awareness campaign dubbed: ‘See something, say something’, aimed at enhancing public awareness towards safeguarding the country against the threat of terrorism and violent extremism and a host of other threats that can potentially undermine the country’s national security is a laudable initiative.

He highlighted that Ghana is a peaceful and stable nation despite its location in a volatile sub-region. This, he noted, is evidenced by the outcome of the recent edition of the Global Peace Index, an index which ranks 163 independent state and territories.

“… Ghana was ranked the first in West Africa, second in Africa and 38^th in the world. Indeed, per the reports from the Global Peace Index, Ghana has consistently been part of the top three peaceful countries in Africa in the past five years, reinforcing the status of a beacon of peace on the continent and oasis in the sub-region; a status that cannot and must not be taken for granted. It is for this reason that Ghana becomes attractive to tourists…”
Yaw Osafo-Maafo