Ghana Minute.
Monday, 14 September 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 14 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Place

Sahel

2026-04-272026-09-14

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026
  2. Joy Online

    Widespread Instability and Regional Response The scale of the attacks has drawn international condemnation and concern for the stability of the Sahel.

    Mali army and Russian mercenaries withdraw from northern stronghold after rebel attacks
  3. Joy Online

    The development marks one of the most significant security incidents in the Sahel region in recent months, where extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS continue to operate amid political instability.

    Ghana condemns Mali terror attacks, advises traders to suspend travel
  4. Joy Online

    Dr Doke explained that the evolving nature of armed groups in the Sahel makes the situation more dangerous than in previous years.

    “The situation is very dire” — Dr Doke urges ECOWAS, AU to act swiftly on Mali rebel attacks
  5. Business & Financial Times

    Ongoing tensions in Bawku, the increasing link between illegal mining and organised crime, and the potential spillover of Sahel instability are reshaping Ghana’s risk map.

    Economy’s stability is real: But businesses are entering a higher-risk economy than they think
  6. Joy Online

    He called for stronger, more consistent regional leadership to defend democratic governance and restore long-term peace in the Sahel.

    West African leaders failing Sahel crisis response — Bomfeh
  7. Joy Online

    Dr James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, a lecturer at UPSA and CEO of CenCES, has linked the latest violent attacks in Mali to broader geopolitical competition in the Sahel, warning that external influence is shaping the region’s evolving security crisis.

    Bomfeh links Mali violence to geopolitical rivalry in Sahel region
Politics

Ghana faces growing terrorism threat from Sahel expansion

The News

The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism warns that Ghana is now closer to terrorism threats than ever before, citing extremist violence spreading across the Sahel and into Burkina Faso near Ghana's borders, combined with internal socioeconomic vulnerabilities including unemployment and economic insecurity.

12 September 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 12 September

  1. Ghana faces growing terrorism threat from Sahel expansion

    The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism warns that Ghana is now closer to terrorism threats than ever before, citing extremist violence spreading across the Sahel and into Burkina Faso near Ghana's borders, combined with internal socioeconomic vulnerabilities including unemployment and economic insecurity.

    12 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 7 September

  1. AGN chair calls for climate-food systems integration ahead of COP31, COP32

    The Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change urged African leaders to integrate agriculture and food systems into climate policy, rejecting a "false choice" between food security and climate action. The call comes as Africa prepares for COP31 in Antalya within two months and will host COP32 in Addis Ababa in late 2027.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 3 September

  1. Minister calls for stronger child protection in armed conflict

    Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has urged stronger national systems and closer institutional collaboration to prevent children from being recruited or used in armed conflict, stressing the need to identify vulnerabilities early. Her call was made at the opening of a two-day inaugural meeting of the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on the implementation of the Vancouver Principles in Ghana, organised by the National Peace Council and the Dallaire Institute.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. EU urges NCCE, media roles in Ghana's constitutional review process

    The Deputy EU Ambassador to Ghana says the media and National Commission for Civic Education must play critical roles in educating citizens about a forthcoming constitutional review covering decentralisation, accountability, and human rights, including a proposed death penalty abolition. The EU pledged continued support for Ghana's civic education efforts and praised Ghana's press freedom ranking of 39th globally.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Media urged to uphold information integrity, prevent misinformation

    The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson warned that failure to maintain information integrity could amplify social divisions and expose Ghana to security threats, citing a pattern in Sahel countries where information manipulation weakened public trust in institutions.

    2 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Monday 31 August

  1. Youth forum in Accra to discuss Africa's debt and reparations

    The Pan-African Progressive Front will host a Youth Forum on Debt and Reparations titled "Africa's Freedom Is In Our Hands" on September 5 at the University of Ghana, with an estimated 200 participants expected to examine debt, colonial extraction, reparations, and the CFA Franc's role in Africa's economy.

    31 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 29 August

  1. Mahama attends AU summit on African conflict prevention

    President Mahama has arrived in Luanda, Angola, for the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, focused on strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms across the continent. The summit, led by Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, aims to assess existing peace and security frameworks and agree on measures to improve coordination and implementation of African peace and security structures amid ongoing regional conflicts.

    29 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 26 August

  1. ECOWAS council lacks forward-looking security threat assessments

    A commentary on the 96th ECOWAS Council of Ministers session in Freetown argues that the regional body's agenda—dominated by institutional administration and economic matters—does not reflect forward-looking intelligence assessments of security threats facing the region, suggesting the organization is not configured to anticipate emerging problems.

    26 August 2026 · Daily Guide

Monday 24 August

  1. Foreign Affairs warns pilgrims against road travel to Senegal

    Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cautioned members of the Tijjaniya Muslim Movement planning road travel to Senegal for pilgrimage, citing security concerns along certain road corridors to Dakar, and recommends air travel instead.

    24 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Friday 21 August

  1. Ghana must address Sahel security threat beyond northern borders

    Ghana's successive administrations have treated the Sahel jihadist threat as an issue for Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin, but West African instability is widening: jihadist groups now control over fifty percent of Mali's territory and have advanced further south despite military juntas' coups and security collaboration with Russia's Africa Corps.

    21 August 2026 · Daily Guide

Thursday 20 August

  1. EU shifts Ghana partnership focus from aid to mutual security

    The European Union says it is evolving its relationship with Ghana from a traditional donor-development model to one based on shared interests and mutual security responsibilities. The EU argues that Ghana's democratic stability and regional peace are important to European security, particularly as instability and violent extremism spread across the Sahel.

    20 August 2026 · Daily Guide

  2. Türkiye's exports to Africa rise 12.6% to $13.3bn

    Türkiye's exports to Africa reached $13.3 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a 12.6% increase year-on-year, driven by expanding logistics networks and stronger connectivity. Exports to Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria showed particularly strong growth of 26.1%, 31.3%, and 52.1% respectively.

    20 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Ghana, Russia sign visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders

    Ghana and Russia have signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, the first of its kind between the two countries since they established formal diplomatic relations in 1958. The agreement was signed during a three-day official visit to Russia by Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and is expected to be a first step toward enhanced visa privileges for other travellers and broader strategic cooperation in education, energy, agriculture, security, defence, and minerals exploration.

    20 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Wednesday 19 August

  1. African governance exists beyond state institutions, not in vacuums

    Policymakers misdiagnose so-called "ungoverned spaces" in Africa—territories where formal state authority appears absent—as institutional voids prone to violence and extremism. In reality, these areas are governed differently through alternative authorities and institutional arrangements; the question is not whether governance exists, but who governs and for whose interests.

    19 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Ghana seeks Russian backing for Africa-led Sahel counterterrorism

    Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called for an Africa-led strategy, supported by Russia, to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel Region during bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Ablakwa stressed that any long-term response must be African-led with strategic support from Russia and other international partners, emphasizing the need for stronger regional cooperation to prevent terrorism's spread into neighbouring countries.

    18 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 17 August

  1. New Defence Minister pledges modernised, technology-led security approach

    Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the newly appointed Defence Minister, has committed to pursuing a technology-led and modernised defence posture to address Ghana's complex and unpredictable security environment, citing threats including violent extremism, terrorism, maritime insecurity, cyber threats, illegal mining, and potential Sahel spillover effects.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. $50m hostage ransom funded al Qaeda Mali offensive, UN reports

    A $50 million ransom paid in late 2025 to free hostages seized by al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali has helped fund their advances across West Africa and the group's global network, according to a U.N. report. Three regional sources identified the United Arab Emirates as having made the payment, which distributed funds to fighters in the Sahel region and al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and beyond.

    17 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. IGP convenes interfaith meeting after inflammatory social media videos

    Ghana's Inspector-General of Police held a high-level interfaith meeting with religious leaders following tension sparked by viral videos with inflammatory remarks about Islam and Christianity. The IGP called on Christian and Muslim leaders to demonstrate unity publicly through joint appearances at events, shared meals, and community engagement.

    17 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Friday 14 August

  1. Vice President commissions five envoys to Kuwait, Nigeria, Niger, Norway, Sierra Leone

    Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has commissioned five envoys to represent Ghana in Kuwait, Nigeria, Niger, Norway, and Sierra Leone, tasking them to advance Ghana's foreign policy interests and strengthen bilateral relations. She emphasized that Ghana must maintain visibility in global affairs and adopt a more active approach to international relations amid significant geopolitical changes.

    14 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Ghana and Burkina Faso sign defence cooperation agreement

    Ghana and Burkina Faso have signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening security along cross-border trade corridors and deepening bilateral defence cooperation. The pact follows a February 2026 terrorist attack that killed eight Ghanaian tomato traders in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, and was signed in Accra on August 10, 2026 by Ghana's Acting Minister for Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Burkina Faso's Minister of State and Minister of War and Patriotic Defence, Major General Célestin Simporé.

    12 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Jatikay Centre backs National Security Council restructuring

    The Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building welcomed the reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat, urging the new leadership to prioritise violent extremism, border surveillance, and regional intelligence cooperation in response to threats from the Sahel, while also addressing chieftaincy and land disputes.

    11 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Accra summit calls for overhaul of Africa's atrocity prevention approach

    Experts gathered in Accra for the 10th anniversary of Atrocities Watch Africa to issue a landmark agenda, warning that the continent's early-warning systems are undermined by political inaction, structural inequalities, and weak accountability, while technology both strengthens threat monitoring and creates new vulnerabilities through disinformation and hate speech.

    11 August 2026 · The Chronicle

  3. GIS adopts intelligence-led border security strategy amid transnational threats

    The Ghana Immigration Service is transitioning to an intelligence-driven approach to detect and disrupt security threats at Ghana's borders, as criminal networks increasingly exploit technology and irregular migration routes. The shift is part of the 48-month SHIFT Project, implemented in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.

    11 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 7 August

  1. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei nominated as Ghana's Defence Minister

    President Mahama has nominated Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, currently Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, to lead the Defence Ministry, replacing Dr Edward Omane Boamah who died in a military helicopter crash in August 2025. Adjei previously served as Deputy Minister for Defence between 2015 and 2016 under President Mahama's first administration.

    7 August 2026 · Joy Online

Sunday 2 August

  1. Ghana launches €7.3m West Africa border security initiative

    Ghana has launched a 48-month regional project backed by €7.3 million in EU funding to strengthen border management and tackle terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime across West Africa. The SHIFT project will be implemented in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, with Burkina Faso participating in regional-level interventions.

    2 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Trump reaffirms US recognition of Morocco's Western Sahara sovereignty

    US President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and backed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the only basis for resolving the long-running territorial dispute, warning that alternative approaches would only prolong it.

    2 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 1 August

  1. Trump reaffirms U.S. recognition of Morocco's Western Sahara sovereignty

    President Trump has reaffirmed the United States' recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and backed Morocco's Autonomy Proposal as the only basis for resolving the territorial dispute, in a message to King Mohammed VI on Morocco's Throne Day.

    1 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Ghana faces heat-related death gap amid slow electricity growth

    A Climate Impact Lab report warns Ghana is caught in a "Mortality-Cooling Trap" where rising temperatures outpace electricity supply growth, projecting 19 additional heat-related deaths per 100,000 people by 2050 and over 4,000 additional deaths annually, with about a third of the population in high-risk areas.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 27 July

  1. Ghana must adopt drone-based security doctrine for border patrol

    An analysis argues that Ghana's 2,090 km land borders cannot be realistically patrolled by conventional means and must embrace drone technology for security, citing documented use of kamikaze drones by jihadist groups including JNIM and Islamic State affiliates across the Sahel and increasingly near Ghana's borders with Togo, Ivory Coast, and Benin.

    27 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 24 July

  1. UN calls investigation into alleged killing of Malian soldiers

    The UN human rights office has called for an investigation into reports of torture and killing of surrendering Malian soldiers during an ambush by insurgents and separatists in northern Mali on Saturday, saying such actions would amount to a war crime. A source close to the Azawad Liberation Front reported more than 50 pro-government fighters were killed, though Reuters could not independently confirm the toll.

    24 July 2026 · Joy Online

Sahel — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute