Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new security agreement among West African countries to improve cooperation against terrorism and other threats affecting the region.

Mahama 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, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

He said political divisions among regional blocs had weakened collective efforts to tackle insecurity, while governments continued to struggle to turn existing agreements into practical action.

The report examines political and economic conditions contributing to conflicts across Africa between January 2025 and June 2026.

Proposed Sahel-Gulf of Guinea Accord

Mahama’s proposal follows concerns that the Accra Initiative, which was established to strengthen cooperation among West African countries against terrorism and violent extremism, has stalled.

He said Ghana was working with neighbouring countries to establish a new regional cooperation arrangement that could help address security challenges more effectively.

At the forum, the President identified the proposed Sahel-Gulf of Guinea Accord as a coalition of willing countries committed to promoting peace and security.

The arrangement would build on bilateral, minilateral and multilateral cooperation, allowing participating countries to work together on shared security concerns.

The proposal comes amid growing divisions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which comprises Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Mahama said these differences had weakened regional efforts to respond collectively to security threats. He added that Ghana had continued engaging with AES countries despite their disagreements with ECOWAS.

Mahama Urges African Union to Enforce Security Commitments

Beyond regional cooperation, Mahama called on the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities to strengthen oversight of governments’ commitments under peace and security agreements.

He argued that African countries had developed numerous policies and frameworks but had often failed to implement them effectively.

The President urged the AU to assess whether governments were meeting their obligations and publicly identify cases where agreed measures had not been implemented.

Such accountability, he said, would help address the gap between commitments made by African governments and the practical steps required to prevent and resolve conflicts.

Regional Divisions Remain a Security Challenge

The proposed accord reflects efforts to maintain cooperation across West Africa at a time when political disagreements between regional blocs have complicated collective responses to insecurity.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain major concerns for countries across the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea, making coordination between neighbouring states important for addressing threats that cross national borders.

However, the proposal’s effectiveness will depend on the countries willing to participate, the practical arrangements they establish and their ability to implement agreed measures.

Mahama’s remarks at the Tana Forum placed renewed emphasis on regional cooperation and accountability as key elements of Africa’s efforts to strengthen peace and security.