By Hannah Dadzie
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says Ghana and its West African neighbours are working to establish a new regional security framework, known as the “Coalition of the Willing,” to intensify the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and surrounding areas.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the initiative follows growing challenges with the Accra Initiative, which he said had lost momentum and become clouded by suspicion among some countries in the region.
Speaking at Chatham House in London on Monday, March 9, 2026, the Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that Ghana convened a consultative forum in January this year with neighbouring countries to design a new approach to counter violent extremism and transnational crime.
He explained that the earlier framework became complicated by geopolitical tensions, particularly concerns about the involvement of France and other Western partners in the original conceptualisation of the Accra Initiative.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that some countries within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have shifted their alliances toward Russia and are seeking to cut ties with France, a development he said has further complicated regional cooperation.
As a result, he said West African states are now creating a new framework, the Coalition of the Willing, to pursue terrorists operating across the region.
“We are now creating a new framework which we call the Coalition of the Willing. And we have the support of the African Union. The Minister added
He revealed that approval has been secured to deploy about 1,600 troops to support operations, including hot pursuit missions against terrorist groups operating across borders.
Mr. Ablakwa also disclosed that Ghana recently hosted a meeting of special envoys to the Sahel from across the world to mobilise broader international support for the initiative. He expressed optimism that countries within the Alliance of Sahel States are gradually reconsidering their approach to regional cooperation.
According to him, the countries are beginning to recognise the need for broader partnerships and have started participating in consultative meetings, while also reopening discussions on security cooperation with the United States.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the evolving cooperation offers hope that renewed collaboration, together with reforms under what he described as an “Accra Reset Initiative,” will create a more comprehensive, multi-sectoral response to the region’s security challenges.
Mr. Ablakwa also cautioned against attempts to frame the conflict as a religious war, warning that such narratives could undermine efforts to build broad support against violent extremism.
He stressed that the security crisis should instead be understood as a combination of violent extremism, banditry and transnational organised crime.
According to him, accurately framing the threat is essential to securing the cooperation of community leaders, traditional authorities and other stakeholders in the collective effort to combat terrorism across the region.
