A two-day high-level consultative conference of intelligence chiefs and security officials from West Africa and the Sahel is ongoing in Accra, Ghana.
The conference, which was officially opened on Thursday, 29th January at a ceremony held at the Movenpik Ambassador Hotel, is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation against the growing threat of terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational crime.
Speaking at the opening, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, cautioned that the region has become the new epicentre of global terrorism, with an average of eight terror attacks daily, claiming approximately 44 lives. The Minister said West Africa and the Sahel now account for nearly half of all recorded global terrorist incidents.
Over the last 15 years, “our region has seen an increase of 1,266% in terror attacks, with the death toll rising by a staggering 2,860%. This is the grim reality we face,” said Minister Ablakwa. He mentioned a dramatic rise in terror-related violence over the past 15 years, emphasizing that the threats confronting the region are transnational and cannot be addressed by individual states acting alone.
“The challenges faced as a region are not confined to just a particular nation, thus the need for our communities to demand a coordinated regional riposte,” he added.
He called for a transformed culture of trust, transparency, and intelligence-sharing among states, built on four key principles: trust, resource mobilization, integration of security and development efforts, and far-sightedness to anticipate risks before they intensify.
According to him, the outcome of the intelligence chiefs’ deliberations will directly inform ministerial discussions and shape the draft communiqué to be considered by regional leaders at the Heads of State Summit.
In his address, the Minister for the Interior and National Security in Ghana, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, described the meeting as a crucial moment for the sub-region, remarking that terrorism and violent extremism have intensified in scale, difficulty, and topographical reach.
He highlighted the escalating attacks in the Central Sahel, including assaults on military connections, civilian communities, and critical infrastructure, which have resulted in mass displacement and deteriorating conditions.
“Security can no longer be addressed largely through a narrow military lens. It must be entrenched within a comprehensive framework where development and security are mutually reinforcing pillars,” he asserted.
While acknowledging the role of existing instruments such as ECOWAS and the African Union, he said renewed strategic direction, stronger coordination, and real-world intelligence cooperation are needed to deliver physical benefits.
The crucial nature of Sierra Leone’s participation is highlighted by the quality of its participant, Martin Lavahun, the Deputy Director General of the Central Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA), Office of the President, who was accompanied by Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi, designated Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force in the ECOWAS Commission.
The high-level consultative conference of intelligence chiefs and security officials from West Africa brought together delegations from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, as well as representatives from the African Union and development partners.
