More than 300 people were arrested between 2023 and 2025 over alleged extremist recruitment attempts along Ghana’s northern border, Majority Leader in Parliament James Agalga has disclosed.
According to Mr Agalga, the arrests formed part of efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies to prevent extremist groups operating within the sub-region from recruiting individuals in Ghana.
He said security agencies also recorded 47 cross-border incursions during the period, underscoring the growing security threats facing the country.
Mr Agalga disclosed the figures while speaking at the 9th REPAM-CDS Security Governance Conference, where he called for stronger security and governance measures to protect Ghana from emerging threats.
The Majority Leader, who also chairs Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, said although Ghana had maintained relative peace and stability compared with some neighbouring countries, the country could not afford to become complacent.
He noted that Ghana’s geographical location and proximity to countries affected by violent extremism made it critical for the country to strengthen border security and intelligence-gathering mechanisms.
“In Ghana, we have remained relatively stable, but we are not insulated. The Ghana Armed Forces and security agencies recorded 47 cross-border incursions and over 300 arrests linked to extremist recruitment attempts along our northern border between 2023 and 2025,” he said.
Mr Agalga also cited rising cybercrime and fraud as evidence of the changing nature of security threats facing the country.
“At the same time, our 2024 crime statistics show a 12.3 percent increase in cybercrime and fraud cases, highlighting the shift to non-traditional threats. These data points tell us one thing, threats are transnational, asymmetric and they test the very governance structures we are mandated to oversee,” he said.
He stressed the need for Ghana to strengthen its security institutions and governance systems to effectively respond to both traditional and emerging threats.
