By: Hannah Dadzie
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has dismissed claims that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS is weakening, insisting that the regional bloc remains strong and capable of addressing security threats in West Africa.
Speaking on the issue of regional security on the sidelines of the Conference of Commonwealth Ministers of Foreign Affairs at Chatham House in London, Mr. Ablakwa described assertions that ECOWAS has become weakened as “exaggerated,” stressing that member states are mobilising resources to strengthen their collective response to terrorism and other emerging threats.
“ECOWAS is still strong, ECOWAS is still buoyant, and we are putting together the resources.” Mr Ablakwa said
According to him, Ghana has increased its security spending in the 2026 national budget as part of efforts to enhance the country’s preparedness against potential threats. He revealed that the government will, for the first time, establish an electronic warfare centre in Tamale in the Northern Region to strengthen the country’s intelligence and security architecture.
Mr. Ablakwa explained that improving Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capacity is critical in combating terrorism, noting that the ability to gather timely intelligence and conduct effective surveillance is central to preventing attacks and dismantling terrorist networks.
“We intend to improve our ISR capacity, because in these matters, your ability to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance is really, really critical. We are also working with our partners. We have always made the point that this requires international cooperation.” He noted
Mr Ablakwa emphasised that the fight against terrorism cannot be left to Africa alone, urging the international community to intensify cooperation with regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union.
The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that terrorism poses a global threat and called for stronger international collaboration, arguing that some of the security challenges facing Africa today are partly linked to past international interventions in places such as Afghanistan, Syria and Libya, particularly following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
“The international community should not leave this. It’s not an African problem, because terrorism taking roots is a threat to the entire global community. We need to also remember that the challenge we face today are direct consequences of certain actions by the international community, from Afghanistan to Syria to Libya, not having a post-Gaddafi plan, how we deal with the regime change agenda in Libya. And we’ve had to bear the brunt.” he said
He warned that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East could further aggravate the security situation, as displaced terrorist groups may seek to relocate and establish operations in other regions.
Mr. Ablakwa stressed that Africa must not become a safe haven for terrorist groups, adding that stronger international partnership is needed to prevent extremist elements from regrouping and launching attacks.
He therefore urged the implementation of a recent United Nations resolution which calls for UN financial support and the mobilisation of troops to assist efforts by ECOWAS and the African Union in tackling terrorism across the region.
According to him, although the resolution has been passed, it has largely remained on paper without concrete action to bring it into effect. He called on the international community to ensure the resolution is fully implemented to strengthen regional security efforts.
