The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General William Agyapong, has warned that violent extremist groups operating in the Sahel are steadily expanding southwards toward Ghana, posing an increasing threat to the country’s national security.
Speaking at the opening of the National Defence University’s Strategic Leadership Course in Accra, Lt. Gen. Agyapong said terrorist organisations have already extended their influence into parts of northern West Africa and are probing areas closer to Ghana’s borders.
He stressed that the evolving security landscape demands greater vigilance, stronger intelligence gathering and enhanced cooperation among Ghana’s security agencies and neighbouring countries to prevent extremist groups from gaining a foothold.
According to the CDS, modern security threats go beyond conventional warfare and now include violent extremism, cybercrime, transnational organised crime and climate-related conflicts, all of which require strategic leadership and coordinated responses.
Lt. Gen. Agyapong urged military officers participating in the course to develop innovative approaches to addressing emerging security challenges while strengthening Ghana’s defence capabilities.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the spread of extremist violence from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger into coastal West African countries. Security analysts have repeatedly warned that instability in the Sahel could spill over into countries such as Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire if regional cooperation is not intensified.
Despite the growing threat, Ghana has continued to strengthen border surveillance, intelligence sharing and collaboration with regional partners to safeguard national security and maintain stability.
