President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, talking on the opening of the Second Worldwide Defence Exhibition and Convention (IDEC) 2024, referred to as for a complete technique to deal with the varied safety challenges going through Africa.
Held on the Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters in Accra, the convention gathered defence consultants and stakeholders to debate methods to reinforce regional mechanisms for addressing up to date safety points.
The President highlighted the interconnected nature of safety threats on the continent, starting from terrorism and arranged crime to cybersecurity and climate-induced dangers. “The safety panorama in Africa is characterised by a wide range of threats which can be interconnected and infrequently transcend nationwide borders,” he mentioned. “Given the transnational nature of those threats, no single African nation can handle them alone. It is just by way of regional cooperation and collaboration that we will successfully counter these challenges.”
President Akufo-Addo proposed a number of methods to strengthen regional safety mechanisms, together with enhancing intelligence sharing and coordination, constructing capability for peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations, and establishing the ECOWAS Standby Pressure. He emphasised the significance of intelligence sharing, stating, “Efficient intelligence sharing and coordination amongst African nations are essential for preempting and responding to safety threats. Intelligence is the lifeblood of safety operations, and with out well timed and correct info, our efforts shall be in useless.”
The President additionally referred to as for elevated funding in constructing the capability of safety forces to undertake peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations. He pressured the necessity for specialised coaching to cope with each conventional and non-traditional threats, together with cyber threats. Moreover, he underscored the significance of creating the ECOWAS Standby Pressure to reply swiftly and successfully to threats and uphold democratic governance.
On the problem of maritime safety, President Akufo-Addo urged African nations to reinforce their maritime safety capabilities to guard their huge coastlines and maritime sources. He advocated for elevated funding in naval and coast guard belongings, in addition to better cooperation between coastal states. “Africa’s huge shoreline and maritime sources are a important a part of our financial growth. We must always improve our maritime safety capabilities to guard these sources from unlawful actions,” he acknowledged.
Addressing the affect of local weather change on safety, President Akufo-Addo referred to as for integrating local weather safety concerns into nationwide and regional safety methods. He emphasised the necessity for local weather adaptation and mitigation measures to reinforce the resilience of communities to climate-related shocks.
The President concluded his handle by calling for inclusive governance and growth to deal with the basis causes of insecurity. He acknowledged, “Safety is not only the absence of violence; it’s also the presence of justice, fairness, and alternative. We must always handle the basis causes of insecurity by fostering inclusive governance and selling sustainable growth.”
Because the convention progresses, President Akufo-Addo expressed hope for fruitful discussions that might result in actionable outcomes, contributing to a safer and affluent Africa. “By enhancing our regional mechanisms and fostering nearer cooperation amongst African nations, we will construct a safer and safer continent for future generations,” he concluded.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.