The European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, Mr. João Cravinho, says Ghana and the EU must work even more closely in the coming years as violent extremism and political instability intensify across the Sahel region.
He described the Ghana–EU relationship as an “indispensable partnership” for addressing the complex and fast-evolving security threats affecting West Africa and Europe alike.
Speaking to journalists after touring the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra as part of a three-day mission to Ghana, Mr. Cravinho said his visit reinforced the EU’s conviction that Ghana is not only a reliable partner, but a necessary one in the effort to promote peace and stability in the region.
‘European security is directly affected by Sahel instability’
Mr. Cravinho warned that the surge in jihadist activity across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger continues to endanger populations in the Sahel while also posing a growing threat to Europe.
“We know from experience that terrorist organisations do not stay where they are. They are a curse for the populations immediately affected, and they become a threat to others,” he said. “European security is threatened by the establishment of terrorist organisations in the Sahel.”
He noted that changes in United States policy toward Africa, combined with political upheavals in the region including five coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger make stronger EU–Ghana cooperation even more urgent.
Ghana–EU cooperation described as essential
Reflecting on engagements with President John Mahama, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, National Security leadership, and security agencies in Accra and Tamale, Mr. Cravinho said he leaves Ghana with “a strong sense of shared commitment.”
“I take the sense that Ghana is a partner with whom not only we can work, but need to work,” he emphasised. He added that Ghanaian officials consistently stressed the EU’s role as a “fundamental partner” in addressing regional security.
According to him, the evolving geopolitical environment particularly Washington’s shifting priorities has brought Ghana and the EU even closer, reinforcing the need for joint action over the next one to two years.
Insights from Tamale: Seeing the Sahel’s impact up close
Mr. Cravinho described his visit to Tamale as crucial to understanding the realities facing communities closest to the Sahel.
“It is different to read about the Sahel from a distance. Going to the northern region and listening to people on the ground whether the army, police, immigration or civil society gives a deeper sense of the pressures and dynamics, particularly from Burkina Faso,” he said.
