KAIPTC Research Director Defends Structural Split to Counter Fast-Moving West Africa Security Threats

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre has undergone a significant institutional restructuring that its leadership says is essential if the Accra-based centre is to keep pace with rapidly evolving security threats across West Africa.

Dr. Emma Birikorang, Director of Research at KAIPTC, defended the decision to decouple the former Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research (FAR) into two independent units, describing the move as “not just a cosmetic restructuring” but a strategic shift designed to sharpen the institution’s effectiveness.

The reorganisation splits the old faculty into the Faculty of Academic Affairs, which now handles academic programmes and training, and a newly created Department of Applied Research and Innovation in Peace and Security (DARIPS), dedicated to producing policy-relevant research.

Why the Change Was Needed

Dr. Birikorang pointed to the sheer speed and complexity of contemporary security challenges as the primary driver behind the restructuring. “The peace and security challenges that are confronting West Africa today are moving faster than our traditional research and training cycles have been able to keep up,” she told partners at a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Accra.

The security landscape in the region has shifted dramatically in recent years. Violent extremism, once largely confined to the Sahel, has spread into coastal states including Ghana’s neighbours. Unconstitutional changes of government have placed governance systems under severe strain, while the resulting humanitarian crises have compounded developmental pressures across the subregion.

As an ECOWAS Centre of Excellence, KAIPTC’s mandate has expanded accordingly. The institution is now expected not only to deliver training but also to produce high-quality, applied research that directly informs the policy decisions of governments, security agencies, and communities across West Africa.

What DARIPS Will Do

The new research department is designed to act as a platform for collaboration rather than an isolated academic unit. Its outputs are intended to align with the operational realities facing West African states, providing actionable intelligence and policy recommendations that can be rapidly deployed.

Dr. Birikorang urged partners and stakeholders to actively engage with the restructured institution. “I encourage you as our partners to challenge us, point us to a way that is already underway which you may not be aware of, and highlight areas of interest to you, so that we can collectively address the peace and security challenges we face in our region,” she said.

International Backing

The restructuring has been supported by the Government of Germany through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), both at its Accra headquarters and through its dedicated KAIPTC office. The partnership reflects the international community’s continued investment in West Africa’s peace and security architecture.

Dr. Birikorang expressed confidence that the changes would yield practical results. “I look forward to the discussions ahead, and I am confident that we will produce a good collaboration that will be useful for all parties,” she said.

The restructuring comes at a critical juncture for the region. With ECOWAS itself navigating internal divisions and the security environment growing more volatile by the month, the pressure on institutions like KAIPTC to deliver timely, relevant research has never been greater. Whether this reorganisation proves to be the right response remains to be seen, but the centre’s leadership appears determined to ensure it is at least no longer hamstrung by structures designed for a different era.

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