The 8th Security Watch Africa Lecture series and 9th Security Watch Africa Awards on Thursday opened in Accra.
The lecture, which being hosted for the second time in Ghana, brought together renowned African leaders, policy makers, opinion leaders, Security experts and the media and provided an opportunity for the discussion of the continent's security challenges and applicable solutions.
The lecture is on the theme: "Developing regional strategies and best practices in the fight against crimes and conflicts in Africa."
Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, National Security Advisor to President John Mahama, said there was the need for West African countries to work together in maintaining peace and security in the sub-region.
He said citizens of many countries in the west African sub-region were trapped in conflicts and armed robbery because of bad social and economic lapses and that this, could be control when governments make the living conditions of their citizens better.
Bridg Nunoo-Mensah noted that information sharing was important in the control and maintenance of peace and security, adding that African countries must share information to maintain peace.
He said war was not the right option for the African Continent and that African countries must not resolve issues by war when the issue can be solved through dialogue.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Foriegn Affairs and Regional Integration, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Kwadjo Wadie, Head of Policy Bureau of the Ministry, said the quest for peace has eluded Africa for too long and that despite the tremendous gains by some African countries, the entire continent was often judged on the basis of the few brutal conflicts and grave human rights violations.
He said the African continent was yet to rid itself of conflicts that threaten peace, security and political stability.
Alhaji Mumuni said the destruction caused to property and plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in their own land "Africa" should renew the continent commitment to tackle conflicts more forcefully.
He said the current security challenges in the sub-region, and Africa for that matter, go beyond conflict.
Alhaji Mumuni noted that food insecurity was also a problem and that a recent survey report on Food Security Index revealed that out of 59 countries that are most at risk of food insecurity in the world, 39 were in Africa.
Mr Patrick Agbambu, International Coordinator of Security Watch Africa said stated that the idea for the Lecture and Awards was borne out of the desire to see a safe and secured Africa where citizens could live in peace.
Security Watch Africa is a media NGO based in Nigeria that covers issues and events across Africa.