Ghana and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational security threats.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Netherlands’ Minister for Justice and Security, H.E. David Van Weel, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on July 21.
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Welcoming the Dutch delegation, Mr Ablakwa praised the longstanding partnership between Ghana and the Netherlands, describing it as a productive relationship that has delivered tangible benefits over the years.
He highlighted the growing security challenges facing Ghana, including violent extremism in the sub-region, organised crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and illicit financial flows.
The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed concern over the increasing abuse of synthetic drugs among young people, describing it as a major national security priority. He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the menace through effective law enforcement while upholding the rule of law.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the cross-border nature of organised crime requires stronger international cooperation, calling for closer collaboration among law enforcement agencies, justice institutions and foreign ministries to tackle evolving transnational threats.
He also thanked the Government of the Netherlands for its continued support, particularly in strengthening Ghana’s border management through the provision of modern security screening equipment at ports of entry, which he said has enhanced efforts to combat illicit trafficking.
The minister noted that Ghana’s upcoming chairmanship of the African Union presents an opportunity to promote greater continental cooperation against transnational organised crime through intelligence sharing, harmonised legal frameworks and stronger partnerships between Africa and Europe.
For his part, H.E. David Van Weel commended the growing cooperation between the two countries, particularly following the successful High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark United Nations Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans.
He said Ghana and the Netherlands share common concerns over transnational organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism and illicit financial flows, and proposed institutionalising their bilateral dialogue through a more permanent framework that could also include other European partners.
Mr Van Weel further praised the collaboration between Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, describing it as a solid foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation.
At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed a Letter of Intent reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation in combating organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other related transnational threats. They also agreed to continue discussions on establishing a more structured mechanism for collaboration between the two countries.
