Islamist militants fighting in Burkina Faso are discreetly using northern Ghana as a logistical and medical base to support their expansion efforts across West Africa, according to Reuters.

Ghanaian security officials, diplomats, and others close to the issue report that militants linked to al Qaeda—primarily the group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM)—are quietly crossing into Ghana to gather supplies, including food, fuel, and explosives, and even seeking treatment for their injured fighters in local hospitals.

The presence of militants in northern Ghana comes as Burkina Faso has lost control of more than half its territory to insurgent groups like JNIM. The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael, recently published a report suggesting that Ghana might have entered an unspoken non-aggression pact with JNIM, based on insights from high-ranking sources within the Ghanaian government.

According to Kars de Bruijne from Clingendael, JNIM has been documented discreetly passing through Ghana, making supply runs, and occasionally recruiting in the region. "This should serve as a wake-up call," de Bruijne emphasized, warning of the potential risks if militants establish a foothold in Ghana.

Despite this, Ghanaian officials deny any formal arrangement with the militants. Ghana's ambassador to Burkina Faso dismissed reports of a non-aggression agreement, stating that the country remains committed to working with its neighbours to curb the insurgent threat. The Information Ministry in Ghana has not publicly commented on the situation.

"Ghana wants to ensure safe elections and knows the risks posed by extremists. They are determined to prevent any attacks," said a security expert. The expert added that, from JNIM's perspective, avoiding confrontation in Ghana is likely strategic, as maintaining a safe supply line would be in their interest.

With nearly 400 miles of shared border, Ghana and Burkina Faso are deeply connected and mutually affected by the insurgency that has destabilized Burkina Faso, killing thousands and displacing millions. The Sahel region as a whole is now seen as a global terrorism hotspot, as militant groups aligned with both al Qaeda and ISIS seek to extend their reach. A JNIM leader recently told France’s RFI that the group is intent on expanding its influence into Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

While Togo and Benin have experienced militant attacks, Ghana has not yet seen any major incidents. However, the militants’ ability to exploit porous borders raises concerns about Ghana’s security.

The current wave of insurgency, which began two decades ago, has seen multiple West African nations attempt similar non-aggression pacts with militants, often with temporary success. Many of these arrangements have crumbled as insurgent groups gained strength, leading to further destabilization, with some governments ultimately shifting to Russian-backed security solutions as Western military support declined.