Global news agency Reuters, it has been disclosed that Islamist militants fighting in Burkina Faso are discreetly using Ghana’s northern region as a logistical and medical support hub to bolster their insurgency. According to seven sources, including Ghanaian security officials and regional diplomats, these militants cross Ghana’s border to acquire supplies, including food, fuel, and even explosives, while also receiving medical treatment.
This tactic allows insurgents to sustain their operations in the Sahel and expand influence throughout West Africa, with Ghana emerging as a critical link in the supply chain for these groups. The report suggests that while Ghana has been spared from the deadly Islamist attacks plaguing its Sahelian neighbors, this hands-off approach risks creating a foothold for the militants within Ghanaian territory.
Ghana’s 600-kilometer border with Burkina Faso places it in direct proximity to an insurgency that has destabilized much of the Sahel. The Burkina-based JNIM (Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin), a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, has rapidly expanded, reportedly eyeing Ghana, Togo, and Benin as targets for further penetration. Boniface Gambila Adagbila, Ghana’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, acknowledged the ease with which militants exploit Ghana’s porous border, though he denied claims of a covert non-aggression pact, stating that Ghana is collaborating with Burkina Faso to “flush them out.”
Despite this cooperation, a Clingendael report from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations suggests Ghana may have informally agreed not to disrupt militant supply lines, in exchange for avoiding direct attacks on Ghanaian soil. The report highlights that the majority of the 40 extremist-linked incidents recorded in Ghana since 2015 involved militants using the area as a rest and supply zone rather than engaging in violence.
A senior Ghanaian security official noted that while some militants are arrested and handed over to Burkinabe authorities, others are monitored or used as informants, allowing Ghana to maintain relative peace while remaining alert to the risks of further expansion by extremist groups.
The rising influence of these groups in northern Ghana is concerning, with experts warning that the insurgents are not only utilizing the region as a logistical base but are also recruiting within local communities. Extremist group expert Aaron Atimpe noted that as these militants rest and resupply, they also engage in radicalization and recruitment efforts, embedding themselves within vulnerable areas.
Reuters’ exposé highlights the growing risks Ghana faces as militants leverage the region’s strategic position to expand their footprint across West Africa, underscoring the importance of comprehensive security measures and regional cooperation to counteract the increasing threat.
