Dr. Mahama Seth Sayibu, a prominent security observer and lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), has issued a strategic call for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to institutionalize recent security gains by establishing a permanent special police taskforce base in Tamale.
In his statement, Dr. Sayibu warned that the impactful and timely successes of the current special operations against crime and drug peddling in the Northern Region could be lost without a sustained, localized presence.
“Recent gains made in the fight against crime in the Northern Region could be short-lived if a sustained security presence is not maintained.
“The absence of a permanent taskforce presence could allow criminal networks to regroup once the special operations end. Sustained police visibility is critical to winning the long-term fight against crime in the northern sector”
Dr. Mahama Seth Sayibu, University for Development Studies Lecturer
The appeal comes as the Christian Tetteh Yohuno-led police administration intensifies its crackdown on criminal networks that have long exploited the northern sector’s geographic vulnerabilities.
While the current deployment has successfully dismantled several drug hubs and reduced urban crime, Dr. Sayibu argued that the transient nature of these operations creates a “security vacuum,” that criminal syndicates are ready to fill the moment the taskforce retreats to Accra.
For him, the issue with the Northern Region’s security discourse lies in the durability of law enforcement. Dr. Sayibu emphasized that temporary sweeps are insufficient to counter the sophisticated smuggling routes cutting through Ghana’s porous northern borders.
He noted that these borders have become conduits for illicit drugs that fuel a cycle of youth indiscipline, theft, and violence – a “social and developmental challenge,” that requires more than periodic intervention.
To address this, he directed a specific policy “ask” toward Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance and Acting Minister for Defence, calling for a dedicated financial package to fund the permanent northern base.
The “Northern Belt” Strategy
Under the proposed framework, the Tamale special police taskforce base would serve as a strategic hub for all five northern regions, providing rapid response capabilities to emerging threats.
Dr. Sayibu framed this not just as a policing matter, but as a vital investment in protecting lives and property across the “northern belt.” The friction here is fiscal; establishing such a base requires a significant budgetary allocation from the Ministry of Finance to ensure police morale is matched by logistical capacity.
However, the UDS lecturer balanced his call for “tougher measures,” with a stern reminder of constitutional limits, cautioning against the excesses that have historically strained police-civilian relations in the North.
“All operations must be conducted without excesses and in strict adherence to the human rights provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. A permanent special taskforce presence in Tamale, backed by adequate funding and accountability, will play a critical role in safeguarding the northern regions from crime”
Dr. Mahama Seth Sayibu, University for Development Studies Lecturer
The conclusion of this security debate will likely depend on whether the Mahama administration incorporates the permanent taskforce into its 2026 security roadmap. Until a permanent structure is built, the “drug menace,” remains a shadow over the North’s developmental prospects.
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