Ghana beefing up security with neighboring Burkina Faso

Nahla Abdelmonem

Terrorist groups are contributing to the deterioration of security conditions in western African countries. This is especially felt in Ghana which works to contain terrorist organizations and prevent them from launching attacks.

The Ghanaian army started intensive counterterrorism drills on May 24 in the northern part of the country.

The drills are expected to last for several days. They are part of a strategy for tightening control on the security situation in Ghana.

Terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda have presence in western Africa. The two terrorist groups are also involved in intense rivalries that open the door for more violence.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said terrorism made by international groups and depending on a misinterpretation of the Islamic religion is a major security challenge for his country and the whole of western Africa.

The government of Ghana is afraid that terrorist groups would use its preoccupation with responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and increase their activities in Ghana.

This is why the government expects the same groups to widen the scope of their activities in the coming period.

Regional presence

The selection by the Ghanaian government of the northern region for the drills reflects fears on its part that terrorist groups active in neighboring Burkina Faso will infiltrate Ghana through the shared border between the two countries.

Burkina Faso has been suffering a surge in terrorist activities by al-Qaeda and ISIS which are competing against each other in this African country.

Some intelligence refers to plans by terrorist organizations to target Ghana in the coming period.