President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to adopt a unified approach to regional security, emphasising the need for stronger collaboration across the continent.

Speaking at the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security in Accra, President Mahama described the gathering as a “defining moment” in reshaping Africa’s peace and security landscape.

The conference brought together Ministers, intelligence chiefs, and senior security officials from across West Africa and the Sahel to deliberate on emerging threats such as terrorism, violent extremism, piracy, and transnational organised crime.

Under his leadership, the initiative aims to move away from fragmented responses, promoting instead a comprehensive framework that integrates security, development, and social cohesion.

President Mahama stressed that building trust, strengthening coordination, and ensuring local ownership of security solutions are critical to creating a safer and more stable region.

The two-day conference also featured contributions from Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and Minister for Foreign Affairs,  Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, both of whom highlighted the importance of collective action to combat transnational crimes, including money laundering, arms proliferation, and illegal migration.

President Mahama urged participants to produce practical and sustainable strategies that respond to real-time threats, particularly in frontier communities most affected by insecurity.

The conference marks a significant step toward a renewed African security architecture, reinforcing Ghana’s role as a hub for continental collaboration on peace and stability.