Ghana's President Mahama calls for new West African security accord, stronger AU accountability

President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new regional security arrangement to strengthen cooperation among West African countries and improve the continent's collective response to insecurity.

He made the call on Saturday, October 24, 2026, when he presented the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa Report at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

The report, which covers the period from January 2025 to June 2026, examines political and economic conditions contributing to conflicts and insecurity across the continent.

President Mahama said political divisions among regional blocs had weakened collective efforts to address security threats, while African governments continued to face difficulties in translating existing agreements and commitments into concrete action.

He also urged the African Union (AU) to hold governments accountable when they fail to implement agreed peace and security measures.

His call for a new regional arrangement follows his earlier assessment that the Accra Initiative, established to strengthen cooperation among West African countries against terrorism and violent extremism, had stalled.

President Mahama said Ghana was therefore working with neighbouring countries to establish a new framework for regional cooperation, given that the Accra Initiative appeared to have run aground.

At the Tana Forum, he identified the proposed Sahel-Gulf of Guinea Accord as a coalition of willing countries aimed at promoting peace and security in the region.

He said Ghana was pursuing bilateral, minilateral and multilateral security cooperation with neighbouring countries as part of efforts to strengthen the region's collective response to emerging threats.

President Mahama said the divisions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) had further weakened regional efforts to tackle insecurity.

He noted that Ghana had continued engaging with AES countries despite their differences with ECOWAS.

The President further called on the AU and regional economic communities to monitor governments' compliance with peace and security agreements and openly identify countries that fail to fulfil their obligations.

He said Africa had developed several policies, frameworks and agreements to address peace and security challenges but had struggled to implement them effectively.