Ghana and the European Union have signed their first formal defence and security partnership, aimed at strengthening cooperation against the growing threat of jihadist violence in West Africa. The agreement was signed in Accra by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ghana’s Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. It focuses on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, crisis response, and enhancing the operational capacity of Ghana’s security forces. The deal comes as coastal states, including Ghana, work to prevent a spillover of violence from the Sahel region, where groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have intensified attacks. Ghana shares a northern border with Burkina Faso, one of the epicentres of the insurgency.
Under the partnership, Ghana will receive additional support including surveillance drones, anti-drone systems, communication equipment, patrol boats, and motorcycles. The agreement builds on a €50 million ($54 million) EU support package provided since 2023 to boost border security and surveillance. Ghana’s National Security Coordinator Osman Abdul-Razak said the pact reflects the evolving nature of regional threats, which require stronger collaboration and improved capabilities among security agencies. According to recent data from the Global Terrorism Index, Sahel countries accounted for nearly half of global terrorism-related deaths for the third consecutive year in 2025.
While Ghana has largely remained stable, analysts warn that jihadist groups operating in neighboring countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso could expand southward if underlying economic and governance challenges are not addressed. The agreement underscores Ghana’s growing role as a regional security anchor and highlights increased international efforts to contain instability spreading from the Sahel.
