The Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building has welcomed the reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat and called for renewed attention to emerging security threats facing Ghana.

The Centre congratulated the newly appointed officials, including Major General William Ayamdo (Rtd.), who has been appointed Deputy National Security Coordinator responsible for Operations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre, Adib Saani, said the reorganisation presents an opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s national security architecture.

“The restructuring presents an important opportunity to strengthen intelligence coordination, operational effectiveness, accountability and the preventive orientation of Ghana's national security architecture,” he said.

However, the Centre identified the threat of violent extremism and possible terrorist spillover from the Sahel as one of the most urgent issues requiring attention from the new leadership.

It said developments in Burkina Faso and other parts of the Sahel required Ghana to strengthen intelligence gathering, border surveillance and regional intelligence cooperation.

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The Centre also called for greater investment in the resilience of communities in northern Ghana, particularly those considered vulnerable to violent extremism.

“The Centre believes that one of the most urgent priorities for the new leadership must be the growing threat of violent extremism and possible terrorist spillover from the Sahel into Ghana,” the statement said.

Beyond external threats, the Centre urged the National Security Council Secretariat to pay greater attention to chieftaincy, land and communal disputes across the country.

It said such disputes remain significant internal security risks, noting that Ghana has hundreds of unresolved chieftaincy, land and ethnic conflicts, some of which have been classified as high-risk.

The Jatikay Centre further identified organised crime, illicit financial flows, money laundering, illegal gold trading and cross-border criminal networks as areas requiring increased attention.

According to the Centre, these activities have implications for national security because proceeds from such activities can fuel corruption, organised crime and other destabilising activities.

The Centre said the success of the reorganisation should not be measured solely by changes in personnel but by the ability of the new leadership to anticipate and prevent threats before they escalate.

“The reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat should ultimately be judged not merely by changes in personnel, but by improvements in anticipating threats before they escalate, disrupting organised criminal networks, strengthening intelligence coordination and protecting citizens while respecting the rule of law and human rights,” it stated.

The Jatikay Centre said it remains ready to contribute its research, expertise and civil society perspectives towards strengthening Ghana’s human and national security.

MA