The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has called for stronger collaboration among state and non-state actors to address evolving security challenges at the national and West African subregional levels. 

He said the increasing complexity of threats, including communal conflicts, chieftaincy and land disputes, youth vulnerabilities, and violent extremism across the Sahel, required a coordinated and proactive response from all stakeholders. 

Speaking during the 7th Northern Ghana Security Dialogue and Cross-Border Civil Society Organisation Security Forum, held in Bolgatanga on Tuesday, March 24, the regional minister said, “We need to move beyond diagnosis to actionable solutions that can be implemented at both regional and national levels.” 

The dialogue, organised by the STAR-Ghana Foundation in partnership with the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) and the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), was part of the implementation of the Strengthening Systems for Resilience Against Extremism (SURE) project with funding support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). 

The engagement brought together state and non-state actors on peace and security, such as regional ministers, members of regional security councils, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional authorities, development partners, and representatives from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo. 

The dialogue was expected to generate recommendations to inform national security planning and frameworks and strengthen coordinated responses to security threats in Northern Ghana and the broader West African subregion. 

The minister emphasised that safeguarding peace and stability was a shared responsibility that demanded collective commitment, mutual trust, and sustained partnerships among government institutions, security agencies, civil society, and local communities. 

“As security dynamics within our sub-region continue to evolve, platforms such as this are critical for fostering collaboration, deepening shared understanding, and strengthening coordinated responses,” he stated. 

Mr Akamugri noted that while the five regions of Northern Ghana played a critical role in Ghana’s socio-economic development, they continued to face persistent and emerging threats that could undermine stability if not properly managed. 

He said the dialogue offered an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the current security landscape, share experiences, and develop practical, actionable solutions to prevent conflict and enhance community resilience. 

The minister stressed the need for stakeholders in the peace and security architecture to move beyond identifying challenges to implementing strategies that would strengthen early warning systems and conflict prevention mechanisms. 

“Security remains a fundamental prerequisite for peace, stability, and development. Without it, our efforts at economic growth, social cohesion, and democratic governance cannot be sustained,” he added. 

The Executive Director of the STAR-Ghana Foundation, Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, emphasised the importance of sustained engagement between state institutions and civil society to address the country's security challenges. 

He noted that the rapidly changing security environment required continuous dialogue and collaboration, adding that constant engagement and information sharing were necessary to respond effectively to emerging risks. 

Mr Amidu also highlighted challenges such as economic pressures, youth unemployment, and environmental concerns, including legal and illegal mining and land degradation, as critical issues with implications for peace and security. 

The executive director stressed the need for inclusive approaches that integrate the efforts of governments, civil society, and local communities to address challenges he described as drivers of peace and security. 

The Programmes Officer and Associated Consultant for Sustainable Development (ACSD) and Head of the Burkina Faso delegation, Gnoumou Nikiegnounou, noted that violent extremism continued to ravage the Sahel region and called for collective efforts to address the challenges. 

He said the dialogue was in the right direction, adding that Burkina Faso did not act proactively when extremists were in Mali and was hit unprepared, and advised Ghana to take precautionary measures to prevent the entry of such groups. 

Senator and coordinator of Reseau des femmes pour le developpement au Togo (REFED-Togo) and head of the Togo delegation, Comfort Kabissa Issoyotou, called for border security information sharing among relevant state and non-state actors to effectively deal with border security challenges.