Ghana ready to work with Russia on Africa-led fight against Sahel terrorism – Ablakwa

Ghana says it is ready to deepen cooperation with Russia and other international partners as part of efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel.

Speaking at a press briefing in Russia after bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Ghana supports international assistance but insists that African countries must lead the response to the security crisis.

“Russia has been playing a very important role in stabilizing the situation in the Sahel and during the meeting I conveyed the high commendations of President Mahama and the government and people of Ghana for Russia’s role.”

Ablakwa said Ghana welcomed the involvement of international partners, stressing that cooperation must complement an African-led strategy.

“We welcome our international partners assisting us. You know, our position is that it has to be an Africa-led solution with the support of our international partners and that is how we see this Russian approach.”

He said the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel required a coordinated international response, particularly as militant groups continue to expand their activities in the region.

According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, President John Dramani Mahama has been actively engaging countries within the region, including members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), as part of efforts to build a collective response.

“President Mahama has been leading efforts since his inauguration. He invited the leaders of the AES countries despite the fact that they had been ostracized and relations have become frosty with ECOWAS.”

He said the President subsequently held engagements with the leaders of those countries and convened security conferences to address the growing threat.

Ablakwa noted that the scale of the challenge meant Africa could not rely on a limited number of countries to provide solutions.

“That engagement, it was clear that we will need international partnership because the Sahel has become the global epicenter for terrorism and this must be of concern to everybody in the world and we cannot rely on only a few countries.”

He said Ghana therefore considered Russia’s involvement a welcome contribution to an African-led effort.

“So we do not see Russia’s role as a meddlesome busybody who has not been invited. They have been invited and they are helping us to stabilize the situation.”

Ablakwa further disclosed that Ghana had drafted a new cooperation agreement and shared it with the Russian side for consideration.

He said Ghana would continue to pursue stronger collaboration with Russia in addressing the threat.

“So Russia’s role is welcome. We see Russia as an important partner to help us to deal with the threat of terrorism and we want to continue to see more collaboration in that regard because the security of the Sahel, the stability of the Sahel is the collective stability and security of the entire globe.”