Ghana, situated on the Gulf of Guinea, has received a significant boost to its border security, with the European Union delivering a fleet of 100 armoured vehicles on a mission to enhance the defense capabilities of coastal West African nations grappling with the consequences of jihadist conflicts in the Sahel region.
Ghana, alongside its Gulf of Guinea neighbors, including Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast, has faced escalating security risks due to the spillover of violence from the Sahel, particularly following recent coups in Burkina Faso and Niger. The junta in these countries has called for the withdrawal of French troops, further exacerbating the security situation in the region.
Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, met with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra and confirmed that the 105 armoured vehicles delivered to Ghana mark the initial phase of assistance. Subsequent aid will include aerial surveillance equipment and electronic warfare systems.
Speaking on the situation, Borrell emphasized, “The spill over of insecurity from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea countries is not a risk anymore. It is — sadly — a reality. A reality that our partners cannot — and should not — face alone.”
In addition to bolstering defense and security measures, the EU’s investment aims to target job creation and the improvement of services, particularly in northern Ghana. This region has been a point of concern due to potential recruitment efforts by jihadists who may seek to exploit ethnic tensions and economic dissatisfaction among Ghanaian youth.
According to the EU, the aid package for Ghana is part of a broader €616 million package designed to strengthen the defense and security of the four coastal countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
While Ghana has not reported any jihadist attacks within its territory, Benin’s military has dealt with approximately 20 incursions from across the border since 2021, and Togo has also experienced attacks along its northern border.
Earlier this year, Ghana deployed an additional 1,000 troops and police to the northern Bawku region to enhance security after gunmen killed an immigration officer and wounded two others near the Burkina Faso border. While the perpetrators of the attack were not identified, Bawku, located in Ghana’s Upper East region, contends with an ongoing ethnic chieftaincy dispute that often erupts into violence.
Furthermore, a recent incident saw gunmen open fire on a bus in a northern Ghana district near the border with Burkina Faso and Togo, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine people.
The decision by France to withdraw its 1,500 troops from Niger in response to demands from coup leaders has raised questions about security strategies in Africa. It has also brought attention to the growing influence of China and Russia in the region.
Borrell expressed his concerns, stating, “If they don’t want the French troops to be there, then they’ll leave. I wonder who’s going to take their place, the Russian mercenaries? I can assure you that this time the security is not going to increase but decrease.”
Niger is currently grappling with two jihadist insurgencies: one stemming from the long-running conflict in neighboring Nigeria, which has spilled over into its southeast, and another in the west, involving militants crossing over from Mali and Burkina Faso.
In Burkina Faso, more than 17,000 people have lost their lives in attacks since 2015, with over 6,000 casualties reported since the beginning of this year, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), an NGO monitoring group.