President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has called for collective and coordinated regional approach in dealing with security threats on the continent.
Declaring open the 2nd International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEC) at Burma Camp in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said that it was imperative that African nations should strengthen their regional mechanisms as well as enhance their collaboration, and share intelligence and best practices to create a safer and more secured continent.
“The security landscape in Africa is characterised by a variety of threats that are interconnected and often transcend national borders.
“Terrorism and violent extremism, for instance, become increasingly pervasive in various regions of the continent. From the Sahel to the whole of Africa, terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and ISIS-affiliated factions like Jenin continue to exploit political instability, economic deprivation, and social grievances to recruit and radicalise our youth and execute terrorist attacks,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the theme for this year’s conference “Enhancing Regional Mechanisms for Addressing Contemporary Security Challenges in Africa” is both timely and essential as the country confronted a rapidly evolving security landscape.
He said despite the strides in economic growth and political stability over the few years, the continent continued to grapple with complex security issues such as terrorism, transnational organised crime, maritime piracy, cyber security threats, and the impact of climate change on human security.
The President noted that the issue of transnational organised crime, including illicit activities like drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling, and wildlife poaching continue to pose grave danger to the continent, stressing that “These criminal enterprises undermine economies and fuel corruption and instability, making it difficult for legitimate governance structures to function effectively.”
“The Gulf of Guinea, in particular, has become a global hotspot for piracy, with criminal groups targeting commercial vessels, and holding crew members for ransom. Happily, however, in very recent times, as a result of resolute action by the Nigerian and Ghanaian Navies, the activities of the pirates have been considerably reduced,” he noted.
According to local media report, IDEC is a platform that brings together key stakeholders in the defence and security sector to deliberate on issues that are critical to the peace and security of the continent.
It added that the conference was organised by the military high command of the Ghana Armed Forces in partnership with Great Minds Defense Company and the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institution