The Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building has welcomed the reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s national security architecture and improve the country’s preparedness to deal with emerging threats.

The Centre, in a press release signed by its Executive Director, Adib Saani, congratulated the newly appointed officials, including Maj. Gen. William Ayamdo (Rtd.), who has been appointed Deputy National Security Coordinator responsible for Operations.

It said the restructuring should be used to improve intelligence coordination, operational effectiveness, accountability and preventive security measures.

According to the Centre, one of the immediate priorities for the new leadership should be the growing threat of violent extremism and possible terrorist spillover from the Sahel into Ghana.

It cited developments in Burkina Faso and other parts of the Sahel as requiring Ghana to strengthen intelligence gathering, border surveillance and regional intelligence cooperation.

The Centre also called for greater investment in the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in northern Ghana, where proximity to areas affected by violent extremism presents additional security concerns.

Chieftaincy, land conflicts

Beyond external threats, the Jatikay Centre said the new security leadership must pay greater attention to chieftaincy, land and communal disputes, which it described as significant internal security risks.

It noted that Ghana has hundreds of unresolved chieftaincy, land and ethnic disputes, with some classified as high-risk conflicts capable of destabilising communities.

The Centre further identified organised crime, illicit financial flows, money laundering, illegal gold trading and cross-border criminal networks as areas requiring stronger attention.

It said although such activities might appear primarily economic, they have direct national security implications because their proceeds can fuel corruption, organised criminal activities and other destabilising activities.

The Jatikay Centre said the success of the reorganisation should ultimately be measured not simply by changes in personnel, but by the Secretariat’s ability to anticipate threats before they escalate, disrupt criminal networks, improve intelligence coordination and protect citizens while respecting the rule of law and human rights.

It expressed readiness to support the new security leadership with research, expertise and civil society perspectives to strengthen Ghana’s human and national security.