President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish a new platform to enhance regional security cooperation, following the non-participation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in the Accra Initiative.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Jubilee House, President Mahama said Ghana had sought to integrate the AES into the Accra Initiative, but persistent separation between the two blocs has made it necessary to consider a new framework.
“We need continuous dialogue and engagement to be able to resolve some of the mutual challenges that we commonly face. The Accra Initiative was set up as a platform for our joint fight against violent extremism in the West African sub-region,” he explained.
“Unfortunately, currently, the AES states are not participating in the Accra Initiative. And so, what I’ve been engaged with is seeking a new platform that can bring them on board because the fight is not theirs alone. It’s a sub-regional fight because violent extremism is like a cancer; it continues to grow and spread,” he added.
President Mahama disclosed that discussions were underway toward this goal, noting, “I was in Mali a week ago to discuss the issue of a joint platform where we can collaborate to help them, and the international community can assist in the joint fight against violent extremism.”
The Accra Initiative, headquartered in Ghana, brings together seven West African countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo — to coordinate efforts against terrorism and transnational threats.
However, the AES, comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has shifted focus to its own alliance, prioritising regional independence and reduced reliance on external actors.
