Sahel jihadists find havens in Ghana

Islamist militants from Burkina Faso are discreetly using northern Ghana as a base for logistics and medical support, Reuters reports citing seven sources, including Ghanaian security officials and regional diplomats. Ghanaian authorities reportedly turn a blind eye to militants crossing the border to gather supplies like food, fuel, and explosives, as well as to treat injured fighters, to avoid direct confrontation and escalation. This strategy has, so far, spared Ghana from the kind of attacks that have destabilized neighboring countries, while allowing the militants to sustain their insurgency 

However, regional officials warn that this leniency risks allowing militants to establish roots in Ghana, potentially recruiting from marginalized local communities. Ghana shares a 600-kilometer border with Burkina Faso, where Islamist groups affiliated with al Qaeda, especially JNIM, hold significant territory. Ghana’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, Boniface Gambila Adagbila, denied any implicit agreement with militants, emphasizing Ghana’s cooperative efforts with Burkina Faso to secure the border.