Ghana, Netherlands Sign Letter of Intent to Deepen Cooperation on Organised Crime and Security

Ghana and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have committed to a more structured security partnership, with a focus on tackling organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking and illicit financial flows.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Minister for Justice and Security of the Netherlands, H.E. David Van Weel, signed a Letter of Intent on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during bilateral talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.

Welcoming the Dutch delegation, Mr Ablakwa said the longstanding collaboration between Accra and The Hague has produced tangible results. He, however, flagged growing security threats confronting Ghana and the sub-region, including violent extremism, drug trafficking — particularly the rise of synthetic drugs among Ghanaian youth — money laundering, and illicit financial flows.

“Drug abuse among Ghanaian youth has become a major national security priority concern,” the Foreign Minister said, adding that government remains committed to addressing it while upholding the rule of law.

He noted that because criminal networks operate across borders, an effective response requires coordinated international action. He called for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, justice institutions and foreign ministries.

Mr Ablakwa also cited Dutch support in strengthening Ghana’s border management through modern security screening equipment at ports of entry, which he said has enhanced the work of security agencies in checking illicit trafficking.

With Ghana set to assume the Chairmanship of the African Union, he said the country will push for continental cooperation on intelligence sharing, harmonised legal frameworks, and stronger Europe-Africa partnerships to combat transnational crime.

For his part, Mr Van Weel commended the growing cooperation, referencing the recent High-Level Consultative Conference on the UN Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans. He said both countries share concerns over transnational organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism and illicit financial flows.

The Dutch Minister proposed institutionalising bilateral dialogue through a permanent cooperation framework and expanding participation to include other European partners. He described the collaboration between Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security as a strong foundation for deeper engagement.

The two Ministers agreed to continue discussions on establishing a more structured mechanism for cooperation.

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