Ghana’s special envoy to the Sahel, Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, has called for a major rethink in the way West African states engage with the Sahel coup-led nations, stressing the urgent need for stronger collaboration in tackling terrorism and insecurity across the region. His comments come as part of Ghana’s renewed diplomatic drive under President John Mahama, who returned to office in January and appointed Gbevlo-Lartey as one of his first special envoys.
Speaking after discussions at former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s African peace dialogue, Gbevlo-Lartey revealed that Ghana is pushing for the Accra Initiative – a regional security framework – to include the Alliance of Sahel States (AoSS). The bloc, formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after military coups isolated them from ECOWAS, has become a significant player in the regional security architecture. Ghana’s intention to integrate these nations into broader cooperation reflects both the urgency and complexity of addressing terrorism in the Sahel.
Inside Gbevlo-Lartey’s operations room in Accra, maps cover the walls, charting the relentless movements of armed groups across the Sahel. His young staff record each attack on villages, highways, and infrastructure, building a stark picture of how instability is spreading. “To understand the situation clearly, you need maps,” the retired officer explains, underscoring the meticulous monitoring required to keep pace with the region’s volatile security dynamics.
For Ghana, the stakes could not be higher. The Sahel crisis, marked by insurgencies and terrorist networks operating with impunity, threatens to spill further south, endangering coastal West African states. Gbevlo-Lartey’s approach signals a shift away from isolation of coup states and toward pragmatic engagement, recognizing that defeating terrorism will require collective security rather than fragmented responses.
The envoy also highlighted that the conversation is not just about security, but about stability, diplomacy, and sustainable development. He argued that Ghana and its partners must look beyond political tensions and find ways to cooperate with Sahel nations in order to safeguard communities, protect trade routes, and maintain the region’s long-term prosperity.
Analysts say Ghana’s willingness to rethink its ties with the coup-led Sahel nations could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape. While ECOWAS has imposed sanctions and taken a harder line, Ghana’s position reflects a growing belief that dialogue and inclusion may yield better results than isolation. The coming months will reveal whether the Accra Initiative can successfully expand to bring the Alliance of Sahel States into the fold, potentially setting the stage for a more united West African front against terrorism.
As insecurity escalates and extremist groups strengthen their grip in the Sahel, Ghana’s message through Envoy Larry Gbevlo-Lartey is clear: peace, security, and development can only be achieved if all regional players come together, regardless of political differences. His call for a rethink of relationships with the Sahel coup states is not just about diplomacy – it is about survival, resilience, and the shared future of West Africa.
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