The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) recently held a regional stakeholder engagement in Tamale, Ghana, to gather inputs for the review of the country's 2020 National Security Strategy (NSS). The engagement aimed to solicit views from stakeholders in the Northern Region on existing and emerging security threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. This initiative is part of a nationwide consultation across all 16 regions to ensure the revised strategy incorporates perspectives from communities and institutions throughout the country.
The meeting brought together representatives from various groups, including the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Security Council, security agencies, traditional authorities, religious organisations, civil society organisations, youth groups, educational institutions, farmers' associations, transport unions, and other interest groups. The NSCS is undertaking this nationwide consultation to strengthen stakeholder participation in national security policymaking and identify gaps in the current framework.
According to Mr. George Loh, Director of Legal at the NSCS, the review is intended to ensure that national security policies reflect the experiences and concerns of people across the country, rather than being shaped solely by perspectives from Accra. Ghana launched its first National Security Strategy in 2020 to provide a comprehensive framework for identifying and addressing threats to the State and its citizens. The review has become necessary due to changes in the domestic, regional, and global security environment.
The review is also in line with the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026 (Act 1168), which provides for periodic reviews of the national security framework and introduces changes to the country's security coordination architecture. Mr. Loh described national security as a collective responsibility that requires contributions from all segments of society. He urged participants to critically examine threats and proposed interventions outlined in the review document and offer recommendations on additional measures to strengthen the country's security response.
The engagement seeks to shift emphasis from merely responding to security threats after they occur to identifying and preventing them before they escalate. Mr. Loh added that the exercise is purely consultative, and all contributions will be documented and submitted to the review team for consideration in developing the revised strategy. The NSCS is particularly interested in identifying security threats unique to the Northern region that might not have been adequately captured in the existing strategy.
Mr. Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, commended the initiative, describing it as an important national exercise with far-reaching implications for the country's future. He urged stakeholders to make constructive contributions to enrich the review process and ensure the development of a comprehensive and responsive national security strategy. The review process aims to address emerging security concerns, including the growing threat of violent extremism in the Sahel, cross-border crime, illegal mining, cybercrime, inter-communal conflicts, and climate-related security challenges.
The National Security Council Secretariat's engagement with stakeholders in the Northern Region is a crucial step towards developing a revised national security strategy that reflects the country's evolving security landscape and regional realities. The Secretariat's efforts to ensure that the revised strategy incorporates perspectives from communities and institutions throughout the country demonstrate its commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to national security policymaking.
Key points
- The review of the 2020 National Security Strategy aims to address emerging security concerns, including violent extremism and climate-related security challenges.
- The National Security Council Secretariat is undertaking a nationwide consultation across all 16 regions to ensure the revised strategy incorporates perspectives from communities and institutions throughout the country.
- The review process seeks to shift emphasis from merely responding to security threats after they occur to identifying and preventing them before they escalate.
