The international relations and security expert Vladimir Antwi-Danso has stressed the importance of diplomacy in dealing with Ghana’s neighbours in the Sahel, warning that the country cannot afford to take regional security for granted.
Speaking on TownHall Talk with Kojo Mensah on Friday (22 August), Dr Antwi-Danso described diplomacy as an “unending process” that remains the only effective way to build beneficial relationships between nations, regardless of their governance structures.
“Diplomacy is the way to go. Whether through bilateral or multilateral agreements, we must relate to countries in ways that benefit both sides,” he said.
“The type of governance should not matter so much – what matters is the kind of relationship that yields results.”
He argued that Ghana should not judge its Sahelian neighbours, such as Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, on whether their governments fit Western notions of democracy. Instead, he said, the focus must remain on cooperation, trade, and security.
“Our nationals cross borders for trade every day without regard for bureaucratic processes. To them, it’s just onions and tomatoes. This reality demands strong diplomatic ties and practical engagement with our neighbours,” Antwi-Danso explained.
Silence the guns
Antwi-Danso, the immediate past dean and director of academic affairs for the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, further warned that instability in the Sahel poses a direct risk to Ghana. He cited porous borders, flows of unregistered firearms and the presence of transnational terrorist groups.
“If you look at Burkina Faso today, two-thirds of the country is controlled by terrorists. The last major attack was only a kilometre away from Ghana’s border.
“Terrorism thrives on gun running, and within Ghana alone there are about three million unregistered firearms,” he said.
Antwi-Danso noted that terrorism often feeds on local conflicts, pointing to Ghana’s own hotspots such as Bawku and Yendi. “If we don’t silence the guns in these places, one day external groups could step in under the guise of helping one faction, and we could face the same fate as Mali,” he warned.
He further called for deeper military and intelligence co-operation across West Africa, and lamented the slow progress in establishing a regional standby force.
“Integration takes away many of these problems. In Europe, no one expects one country to fight another because of their deep integration and NATO’s support. We need the same here. Intelligence sharing, joint training and personnel exchange are all part of diplomacy and essential for our security,” he said.
Antwi-Danso concluded by stressing that Ghana must strengthen its diplomatic and security capability simultaneously to prepare for challenges such as those posed by the upheaval in the Sahel. “We cannot say ‘God is with us’ and ignore security. We need diplomacy, intelligence sharing and regional co-operation if we are to remain safe.”
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