Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, has warned that Ghana is facing increasing security threats from violent extremist groups advancing from the Sahel and rising maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Gyenfi, at the 50th Anniversary Republic Day Public Lecture held at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Teshie, Lt Gen. Agyapong said the country’s security environment has changed significantly and requires coordinated national action.
According to him, violent extremist groups operating in the Sahel have already established a presence in the northern parts of countries bordering Ghana and are gradually moving closer to the country’s frontiers.
He noted that the threat is no longer theoretical, citing the killing of Ghanaian traders in Titao, Burkina Faso, as evidence that Ghanaians are already feeling the impact of the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Turning to maritime security, Lt Gen. Agyapong warned that criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are closely linked to organised crime and the financing of extremist groups.
He cited attacks on Ghanaian fishermen, including the theft of outboard motors and incidents where fishing crews have been abandoned at sea, describing the trend as a serious threat to Ghana’s blue economy and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The Defence Chief said Ghana now finds itself caught between two major security challenges, violent extremism advancing from the north and maritime crime intensifying along the country’s southern coastline.
He stressed that the dual threat should be treated as a national security priority requiring long-term strategic planning and coordinated responses.
Lt Gen. Agyapong disclosed that the government is retooling the Ghana Armed Forces to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
According to him, the ongoing efforts are focused on reinforcing border security, enhancing maritime surveillance capabilities and improving the operational readiness of the armed forces to respond to emerging threats.
He also called for stronger collaboration among policymakers, security agencies and academic institutions to develop effective responses to the evolving security landscape.
Addressing officers undergoing training, the Chief of Defence Staff urged them to cultivate strategic thinking, professionalism and ethical leadership to enable them to confront the complex security challenges facing the country.
He concluded by emphasising that the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College must continue to adapt to changing security dynamics, describing the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel as “a warning” and the growing threat in the Gulf of Guinea as “riding the storm.”
