Lets Deal With Security Threats Together President Appeals To African Nations

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated the need for a collective and coordinated regional approach in dealing with security threats on the continent.

He said Afrishy;can nations needed to strengthen their regional mechanisms as well as enhance their collaboration, and share intelligence and best practices to create a safer and more secure continent.

“The security landscape in Africa is characterised by a diversity 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 conshy;tinue to exploit political instability, ecoshy;nomic deprivation, and social grievances to recruit and radicalise our youth and execute terrorist attacks,” he emphasised.

President Akufo-Addo made the call when he opened the 2nd International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEC) at Burma Camp in Accra yestershy;day.

IDEC is a platform that brings togethshy;er key stakeholders in the defence and security sector to deliberate on issues that are crucial to the peace and security of the continent.

It was organised by the military high command of the Ghana Armed Forces in partnership with Great Minds Defense organization and the Gulf of Guinea Marishy;time Institution.

This year’s was on the theme: “Enhancshy;ing Regional Mechanisms for Addressing Contemporary Security obstacles in Africa”.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the theme for this year’s conference was 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 grapshy;ple with complex security issues such as terrorism, transnational organised crime, maritime piracy, cyber security threats, and the impact of climate alter on human security.

The President noted that the issue of transnational organised crime, includshy;ing illicit activities like drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling, and wildlife poaching persist to pose a grave danger to the continent, stressing that “These criminal enterprises undermine econoshy;mies and fuel corruption and instability, making it challenging for legitimate govershy;nance 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 activishy;ties of the pirates have been considerably reduced,” he noted.

Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the GAF, Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, in his remarks, highshy;lighted the importance of the conference in enhancing regional mechanisms to address contemporary security obstacles in Africa.

He emphasised the crucial role of techshy;nological innovation and defense alliances in contemporary warfare, noting the increasshy;ing reliance on advanced tools such as drones, artificial intelligence, and complex communication systems.Ghanaian Times