Ghana’s government has rejected a report that militants in Burkina Faso were discreetly using neighbouring Ghana’s north as a logistical and medical base to sustain their insurgency, Reuters reported.
In a statement on Saturday, Ghana’s security ministry said there were no “non-aggression policy” or tacit agreements with militant groups.
“The ministry strongly rejects the portrayal of Ghana as a ‘supply line’ for militants. Ghana’s counter-terrorism efforts are rightly commended by her partners in the relentless regional and global fight against terrorism,” the statement said.
It added that national security forces were actively engaged in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly along Ghana’s northern border.
Cross-border movements
“The Government of Ghana, through its State Security and Intelligence agencies, conducts continuous operations to prevent any terrorist infiltration or cross-border movement of militants and has been doing so over the years with notable successes,” the statement said.
Ghana shares a 600-km (372-mile) border with Burkina Faso, a country at the heart of an insurgency linked to al Qaeda and the Daesh group that has killed thousands and displaced millions across West Africa’s Sahel region south of the Sahara.
Insurgents have gained ground over the past 12 years despite costly foreign-backed military efforts to push them back.
Turning blind eye
In its report, Reuters news agency cited seven sources, including Ghanaian security officials and regional diplomats, who said authorities in Ghana appeared to be mostly turning a blind eye to insurgents crossing over from Burkina Faso to stock up on food, fuel and explosives, as well as getting injured fighters treated in hospital.
Most of the sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Peoplesmind
