Ablakwa emphasizes Ghana's determination to combat organised crime through effective law enforcement By Laud Nartey

Ghana and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and other transnational security threats.

The renewed partnership was formalised through the signing of a Letter of Intent after a high-level 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 Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

The agreement marks another step in expanding security cooperation between the two countries as they confront increasingly complex cross-border criminal activities.

Welcoming the Dutch delegation, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa commended the strong and productive relationship that has existed between Ghana and the Netherlands over the years.

He noted that the longstanding partnership has produced tangible benefits across several sectors and expressed Ghana's readiness to deepen cooperation through a more structured and sustainable framework.

According to the Minister, both countries share common interests in promoting regional security, the rule of law and international peace.

During the discussions, Mr Ablakwa outlined several emerging security challenges confronting Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.

These include:

• Violent extremism spreading across the region.
• Organised transnational crime.
• Drug trafficking, particularly synthetic drugs.
• Money laundering.
• Illicit financial flows.

He warned that the increasing abuse of synthetic drugs among Ghanaian youth has become a major national security concern requiring urgent intervention.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling organised crime through effective law enforcement while ensuring respect for the rule of law.

Mr Ablakwa stressed that criminal organisations increasingly operate across national borders, making international collaboration essential.

He called for stronger cooperation among:

• Law enforcement agencies.
• Justice institutions.
• Foreign ministries.
• International security partners.

According to him, intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations and harmonised legal frameworks are critical to combating modern transnational crime.

The Minister also expressed appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands for its continued assistance to Ghana in several areas.

He highlighted Dutch support for strengthening Ghana's border management systems through the provision of modern security screening equipment at ports of entry.

According to him, the equipment has significantly improved the capacity of Ghana's security agencies to detect and prevent illicit trafficking activities.

Mr Ablakwa stated that Ghana intends to use its upcoming African Union Chairmanship to promote stronger continental cooperation against organised crime.

He said Ghana would advocate for:

• Greater intelligence sharing among African countries.
• Harmonised legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Enhanced cooperation between African and European security institutions.
• Stronger partnerships to tackle cross-border criminal networks.

He described transnational organised crime as a challenge that requires coordinated global action.

For his part, Dutch Minister for Justice and Security David Van Weel praised the growing relationship between Ghana and the Netherlands.

He referenced the successful High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark United Nations Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans as evidence of the strong cooperation between both countries.

Mr Van Weel noted that Ghana and the Netherlands face similar concerns relating to:

• Terrorism.
• Violent extremism.
• Organised crime.
• Illicit financial flows.

He therefore proposed institutionalising the existing bilateral dialogue through a permanent cooperation framework while expanding collaboration to include additional European partners.

He also commended the close working relationship between Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, describing the partnership as a strong foundation for future cooperation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both ministers signed a Letter of Intent reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The agreement focuses on enhanced collaboration in combating:

• Organised crime.
• Terrorism.
• Violent extremism.
• Drug trafficking.
• Related transnational security threats.

Both sides also agreed to continue discussions on establishing a more structured and permanent mechanism to coordinate future security, justice and diplomatic cooperation between Ghana and the Netherlands.

The agreement reflects the shared determination of both countries to strengthen international partnerships in addressing evolving global security challenges while promoting peace, stability and the rule of law.