The Minister of National Security, Honorable Albert Kan Dapaah has called for collaborative effort among West African countries to bolster regional capabilities to combat the escalating terrorist threat in West Africa and the Sahel region.
Honorable Kan Dapaah, speaking at the launch of the “Support to strengthen capacities for promoting efficiency in the implementation of the Accra Initiative (AI) in West Africa and the Sahel” under the auspices of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in collaboration with the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), bemoaned the alarming escalation of terrorism in the region.
He underscored that Burkina Faso alone accounted for 26% of all terrorist attacks worldwide and a quarter of all terrorism-related deaths, making it an emerging epicenter of the terrorist threat.
Furthermore, the Minister of National Security bemoaned the recent attacks in Togo, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire, stating that the attacks have intensified concerns about the spread of terrorism from the Sahara to coastal West Africa.
Honorable Kan Dapaah further posited that the unfortunate’s development portends a direct threat to neighboring countries including Ghana.
“And it has become evident that no country, no country within the West African region is completely immune to the terrorist onslaught. In effect, the entire West African region risk becoming a theater for the terrorist groups and we should take this very seriously”.
Honorable Albert Kan Dapaah, National Security Minister
The National Security Minister, Honorable Kan Dapaah thus called for immediate and concerted action to confront the evolving security challenges facing the region, stressing the need for a united front anchored on enhanced cooperation among West African states.
He also emphasized the importance of West African countries to share intelligence, resources, and expertise to effectively combat terrorism within the sub region.
In his closing remarks, Honorable Albert Kan Dapaah reiterated the gravity of the situation and urged all stakeholders to prioritize the security of the region.
He also asserted that, it is only through collective action and unwavering determination that can help the West Africa sub region to effectively confront the scourge of terrorism and safeguard the peace and stability of the region.
UNDP Calls for Collective Action to Safeguard Peace and Development
Moreover, Dr. Angela Lusigi, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, speaking at the event emphasized the critical importance of fostering peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
She underscored the organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in West Africa.
Dr. Lusigi, emphasizing the need for collective action to address the complex security challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel, underscored the importance of partnerships and collaboration in advancing sustainable solutions to promote peace and stability in the region.
Dr. Lusigi also took the opportunity to recall the shared commitment to achieving the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
With only five years left to achieve these ambitious goals, she emphasized the urgency of maintaining the gains made over the last decade and preventing any setbacks in the pursuit of peace, development, and prosperity.
The launch event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from international organizations, and security experts, who pledged their commitment to supporting the implementation of the Accra Initiative project and advancing regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
The project was launched in 2017 by Ghana during its Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel into coastal West African nations.
Through intelligence-sharing and coordinated border security, the initiative seeks to address transnational organized crime and violent extremism.
The project also seeks to contribute to strengthening the capacity and collaboration among its member states and with civil society to be able to tackle peace and security threats including violent extremism in the region, while also promoting community resilience.
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