The Director of the National Counter Terrorism Fusion Centre, Major General Timothy Ba-Taa-Banah, has disclosed that an average of 45 people lose their lives to terrorism every day across West Africa, describing the figures as a stark reminder of the growing security threat confronting the sub-region.

He revealed the statistic at the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) National Forum held under the theme: ‘The Spill-Over Risk from the Sahel: Assessing Ghana's Security Preparedness and Early Warning System.’

Addressing participants, Major General Ba-Taa-Banah said the scale of terrorist violence in the region demands urgent and coordinated action.

"The data means an average of about 45 people lose their lives to terrorism every day within the subregion," he said.

According to a report by graphic.com.gh on July 27, 2026, he noted that the worsening security situation in the Sahel poses a significant risk to coastal West African countries, including Ghana, and urged authorities not to lower their guard.

Ghana risks terrorist attack - Experts caution

"These figures are not just statistics. They represent lives lost, families displaced and communities devastated by violent extremism. They should serve as a wake-up call for all countries in the region," he stated.

Major General Ba-Taa-Banah stressed the need for Ghana to continue strengthening its national security architecture through improved intelligence gathering, enhanced border surveillance and effective early warning systems.

"We must remain vigilant and continue investing in intelligence, border security and community engagement to ensure that Ghana remains safe from the spill-over effects of terrorism," he said.

The forum brought together security experts, policymakers, civil society organisations and development partners to examine Ghana's preparedness and identify practical measures to prevent the spread of violent extremism into the country.

Participants also called for stronger regional cooperation, information sharing and coordinated responses to counter the growing terrorist threat across West Africa.

MRA/VPO

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