The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has urged stronger collaboration between state and non-state actors to tackle evolving security challenges in Northern Ghana and the broader West African subregion.
Speaking at the 7th Northern Ghana Security Dialogue and Cross-Border CSO Security Forum in Bolgatanga, Mr. Akamugri stressed that threats such as communal conflicts, chieftaincy and land disputes, youth vulnerabilities, and violent extremism across the Sahel demanded coordinated, proactive interventions.
Organised by the STAR-Ghana Foundation in partnership with the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) and the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), the forum convened regional ministers, security council members, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, development partners, and delegations from Burkina Faso and Togo.
Mr. Akamugri highlighted the five northern regions’ critical role in Ghana’s socio-economic development while acknowledging persistent and emerging threats that could undermine peace if unaddressed. He emphasised moving beyond problem identification to implementing actionable solutions, including improved early warning systems and conflict prevention strategies.
Delegates from Burkina Faso and Togo underlined the need for cross-border information sharing to prevent the spillover of violent extremism and strengthen regional preparedness. Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of STAR-Ghana, pointed to economic pressures, youth unemployment, and environmental challenges such as illegal mining and land degradation as drivers of insecurity, calling for inclusive approaches that engage vulnerable groups like the Fulbe community.
The dialogue forms part of the Strengthening Systems for Resilience Against Extremism (SURE) project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), aiming to enhance coordinated responses and build resilient communities in the face of evolving security threats.
Mr. Akamugri concluded that peace and stability are prerequisites for development, urging sustained partnerships and continuous dialogue among government institutions, civil society, and local communities to safeguard Northern Ghana and the West African subregion.
