The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General William Agyapong, has cautioned that Ghana is confronting an increasingly complex security landscape as threats from violent extremism in the Sahel converge with growing maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
Addressing the 50th Anniversary Republic Day Lecture at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Accra on Wednesday, July 1, Lt Gen Agyapong said the evolving regional security environment requires urgent planning, stronger collaboration and sustained national vigilance.
He explained that Ghana’s strategic location places it at the centre of two major security challenges, making it imperative for policymakers and security agencies to adopt proactive measures to protect the country.
According to him, violent extremist groups operating across the Sahel have become more sophisticated, better resourced and are steadily extending their influence towards coastal West African states.
“The map of our threat environment currently has shifted dramatically in ways that demand a direct and honest response from government,” he said.
The Defence Chief also expressed concern over rising criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea, noting that maritime crimes such as attacks on fishing vessels and the theft of outboard motors are increasingly linked to wider transnational criminal and terrorist networks.
He said these activities continue to threaten the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen while posing broader risks to national and regional security.
Lt Gen Agyapong stressed that the country’s position between the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea should be viewed as a strategic planning challenge rather than an alarmist assessment.
He noted that the theme of this year’s Republic Day Lecture—“From the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea: Violent Extremism and Maritime Insecurity in West Africa: Implications for Ghana and Regional Security”—reflects the urgent need for coordinated responses to the changing security dynamics across the sub-region.
He called for sustained preparedness, enhanced regional cooperation and stronger security strategies to safeguard Ghana against the emerging threats.
