Mahama Calls for Unity as ECOWAS Engages Sahel States on Growing Security Threat

President John Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to ongoing dialogue between ECOWAS and the three Sahelian nations that recently withdrew from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), warning that the escalating security crisis in the region demands a collective response.

Speaking at the Jubilee House after receiving the new German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederick Landshoft, President Mahama cautioned that terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel pose a serious danger to the entire West African sub-region if left unchecked.

“The AES countries, which are our Sahelian neighbours, have broken away from ECOWAS. We are engaging in continuous dialogue with them because the difficulty they face is not theirs alone. If we do not solidarise, it could spread over the whole of the sub-region,” he said.

The President praised Germany’s longstanding partnership with Ghana, highlighting its support for the Kofi Annan International Peace Training Centre, which has helped strengthen regional peacekeeping and counter-terrorism capabilities. He called for deeper cooperation in technical support, training, and joint security exercises to address the evolving threats.

Mahama also reflected on the shifting global order, urging countries that value multilateralism to work more closely together.

“Relations between countries are becoming more transactional, and it looks like the multilateral order is being upended. But Germany is a strong believer in multilateralism, just as Ghana is. This is a time for us to come even closer together,” he noted.

Ambassador Landshoft commended President Mahama’s leadership and Ghana’s democratic credentials, describing the country as a reliable partner in regional security and global diplomacy. He marked 50 years of Ghana–Germany economic cooperation, noting their shared commitment to democracy, peace, and development.

The meeting underscored Ghana’s role as a bridge-builder within ECOWAS, as the bloc continues efforts to re-engage the AES members and prevent instability in the Sahel from spilling over into the wider West African region.