By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has lamented the rise of terrorism in the northern regions demanding collective action in addressing the security challenges there. According to him, the threat requires a comprehensive approach to prevent and mitigate its effects.
“While Ghana has not yet suffered a terrorist attack on its soil, the threat is real, persistent and closer than ever before”, he stated.
The Minister made these remarks at the 6th Dialogue of State and Non-State Actors on Peace and Security in Northern Ghana on October 21, 2025 in Tamale. The event brought together key stakeholders to address the pressing peace and security challenges in the region.
Muntaka highlighted Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of peace in a volatile region, stressing that the stability is under threat as violent extremism spreads southward from the Sahel toward the Gulf of Guinea.
The Minister also reaffirmed Government’s dedication to ensuring every Ghanaian felt safe and empowered, emphasising that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, opportunity, and mutual respect. He further urged participants to approach the dialogue with empathy and innovation to foster a prosperous Northern Ghana.
He called on all stakeholders to prioritise building trust between communities and security agencies, investing in youth employment and development, empowering women and traditional authorities, and promoting responsible media.
In his welcome remarks, the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, noted that the region faces notable security threats, including the Bawku conflict, Bimbilla chieftaincy stalemate, and Nanton chieftaincy crisis. He also acknowledged that the region’s proximity to neighbouring countries raises concerns about potential violent extremism spillovers, reiterating the importance of collective efforts in tackling challenges such as chieftaincy disputes, land conflicts, substance abuse, and cross-border crimes.
One Response
As a native of the land my deepest concern in handling this threat is to creat job opportunity for the youth once we are done with this next thing is to Repel all NGO’s government must also work with the community to gather information on potential threats drone surveillance units must be provided