In a proactive effort to safeguard national stability amid rising regional insecurity, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), through its Directorate of Governance, Justice and Peace, has launched new collaborations with key state institutions to address the threat of cross-border terrorism.

Earlier this week, Fr. Michael Quaicoe, Director of Governance, Justice and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat, led a delegation to meet Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah. The talks centered on potential areas of cooperation under the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI)—a regional framework that seeks to counter violent extremism and build social cohesion across West Africa.

Speaking to Vatican News, Fr. Quaicoe emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue with both government and civil society actors. “Our office is actively engaging with ministries, agencies, and NGOs to raise awareness and form lasting partnerships to tackle the security threats emanating from the Sahel into Ghana,” he said.

While Ghana has remained largely insulated from the direct violence destabilizing some of its northern neighbors, the Bishops’ Conference views the situation with growing urgency. The SPI is therefore aimed not only at defensive measures but also at addressing structural causes of instability.

One of the initiative’s central efforts is the creation of a National Forum on Security, offering a platform to deliberate pressing peace and governance concerns. The upcoming forum, set for 15 July, will spotlight “The Political Economy of Conflict: Exploring Youth Unemployment as a Catalyst for Building Stability.”

Fr. Quaicoe stressed that any meaningful peacebuilding effort must grapple with the social and economic disenfranchisement fueling extremism. “The youth are central to our future, and unless we address unemployment and marginalization, we risk losing them to radical influences,” he warned.

Through SPI and its expanding inter-agency collaboration, the GCBC aims not just to support national security but to actively shape a more peaceful and resilient West African region.