Ghana courts US support to curb jihadists’ activities
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called for US support to deal with the increasing activities of jihadists’ insurgency in the Sahel.
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He said their activities were spreading to the coast with the intention to destabilise the entire region, adding that the phenomenon was “the biggest security challenge confronting virtually all West African states”.
“Our nightmare is the situation where insurgents in the Sahel link up with pirates in the Gulf of Guinea to destabilise the entire region,” the President said.
President Akufo-Addo made the call when the US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt M. Campbell, and some US National Security and other state officials paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra last Monday.
Impression
President Akufo-Addo said initially, an impression was created that activities of the jihadists would be confined to the Sahel, however, “these people are in fact looking to reach the coast”.
He said finding the means and working towards resolving the security situation in the Sahel was a major preoccupation of Ghana and ECOWAS in general.
On the upcoming December 7 elections this year, President Akufo-Addo said the government would ensure a successful poll to maintain its reputation as a beacon of democracy on the African continent.
He said the government was determined to ensure a free and fair election that would reflect the will of the people in electing a new President and Parliament.
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The President expressed the appreciation of the government and citizens to the US for their support to the Electoral Commission and other institutions towards securing a credible electoral process.
He said the US had been an important partner and friend of Ghana, adding that “we share many common aspirations”. “Ghana is a very thriving democracy. Many of its institutions have been influenced by America's history and democratic journey,” he said.
Mission
Mr Campbell said he has had engagements with the Ghanaian national security team, as well as some young tech-savvy Ghanaians and West Africans.
“We come here on a mission from the President of the US (Joe Biden), to make it clear to you that we want to work constructively in every area that is important to Ghana going forward,” he added.