The Ministry of National Security of Ghana has issued a strong rebuttal to a recent Reuters report suggesting that Islamist militants are using the northern part of the country as a logistical base.
The report published on October 24, 2024, claims that militants crossing from Burkina Faso are accessing food, fuel, explosives, and even medical care within Ghana, with alleged leniency from Ghanaian authorities.
The Ministry called these allegations “entirely unfounded and misleading,” describing the report as “riddled with non-factual representations.”
The Reuters report, the Ministry says, is based solely on a publication by the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), which the Ministry had previously challenged due to its “numerous inaccuracies.”
“Contrary to these erroneous claims, Ghana’s counter-terrorism efforts are rightly commended by our international partners in the fight against terrorism.”
“Our security forces are actively engaged in counter-terrorism operations along the northern border to ensure the safety of our citizens and uphold regional stability,” the Ministry stated
The Ministry emphasized that it held discussions with Clingendael’s researchers in August 2024, specifically to address inaccuracies in their report.
“We held meetings with Clingendael and their local collaborators to rectify false representations in their draft report, and we submitted a response paper to clarify Ghana’s counter-terrorism position.”
“These corrections seem to have been overlooked,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry also rejected Reuters’ suggestion that Ghana maintains a ‘non-aggression understanding’ with militant groups.
It stressed that any suggestion that Ghana passively facilitates extremist activities or is permissive towards security threats is not only incorrect but also undermines the dedication and vigilance of the state security personnel who work tirelessly to protect her borders.
Ghana’s security agencies, according to the Ministry, continuously operate to prevent cross-border terrorist infiltration and maintain close collaboration with neighbouring countries to strengthen regional security.
“We will not relent in our responsibility to protect the safety of Ghanaians and support broader regional counter-terrorism initiatives.”
“The Ministry urged both the public and the international community to disregard what it termed “irresponsible reports,” the statement affirmed.