Over 300 Arrested Over Alleged Extremist Recruitment Along Ghana’s Northern Border – Agalga
More than 300 people were arrested between 2023 and 2025 in connection with alleged extremist recruitment attempts along Ghana’s northern border, Majority Leader in Parliament, James Agalga, has disclosed.
Mr Agalga, who also chairs Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, said the arrests were part of efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies to prevent extremist groups operating in the sub-region from recruiting individuals in Ghana.
Speaking at the 9th REPAM-CDS Security Governance Conference, he revealed that security agencies recorded 47 cross-border incursions during the same period, highlighting the emerging security threats facing the country.
According to the Majority Leader, Ghana’s relative peace and stability should not lead to complacency, particularly given the country’s proximity to neighbouring states affected by violent extremism.
“In Ghana, we have remained relatively stable, but we are not insulated,” he said.
Mr Agalga stressed that Ghana’s geographical location made stronger border security, intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies necessary to prevent extremist groups from gaining a foothold in the country.
He also pointed to the increasing prevalence of cybercrime and fraud as evidence that the country’s security challenges were evolving beyond traditional threats.
He cited the country’s 2024 crime statistics, which recorded a 12.3 percent increase in cybercrime and fraud cases.
“These data points tell us one thing: threats are transnational, asymmetric and they test the very governance structures we are mandated to oversee,” he said.
Mr Agalga therefore called for greater investment in Ghana’s security institutions and governance systems to enable the country to respond effectively to both traditional security challenges and emerging threats.
He maintained that while Ghana continued to enjoy relative stability, sustained vigilance and stronger security measures were essential to safeguarding the country’s peace and territorial integrity.
