Ghana’s northern security landscape is facing renewed concern as Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General William Agyapong has warned that violent extremist groups operating across the Sahel are steadily expanding southwards toward Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Defence Minister at the 50th Republic Day Public Lecture held at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Teshi, the Chief of Defence Staff said the regional security environment has become increasingly volatile, with extremist networks becoming more adaptive, better resourced, and capable of exploiting weak governance.
He noted that the threat is no longer distant, as extremist groups have already established a presence in the northern regions of neighbouring countries and continue to push south.
The military chief also paid tribute to Ghanaians, including tomato traders, who were recently killed in an attack in Togo, describing the incident as a reminder of the growing insecurity along Ghana’s borders.
While assuring the public that government is strengthening the Ghana Armed Forces to counter emerging threats, he urged officers undergoing training to combine tactical expertise with sound judgment, integrity, and ethical leadership, stressing that modern security threats often exploit community grievances and governance gaps rather than conventional battlefields.
Delivering the public lecture, Professor Kwesi Aning called on Ghana to address the underlying political, economic, and social conditions that could fuel instability. He said sustainable peace requires a deeper understanding of domestic drivers of conflict alongside external security challenges.
The lecture formed part of activities marking Ghana’s 50th Republic Day and focused on strengthening national resilience in the face of evolving regional security threats.
