Ghana, France Explore Deeper Defence Cooperation

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and France have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with emphasis on military training, capacity building, aviation and regional security.

The commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy call by the French Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Diarra Dimé-Labille, on Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), at the General Headquarters, Burma Camp, on Wednesday.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two sides to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore avenues for deepening cooperation between the Ghana Armed Forces and the French military.

Lieutenant General Agyapong expressed appreciation to the French Government for its continued support to the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly in military training, and commended the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Grégoire Madelin, for his contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.

He said the establishment of the Office of Defence Cooperation within the Ghana Armed Forces would provide a platform to enhance collaboration between the two militaries.

The CDS said he looked forward to stronger partnerships in training, capacity building and the exchange of professional expertise to improve the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

On language training, Lieutenant General Agyapong called for increased opportunities for Ghanaian military personnel to learn French, explaining that proficiency in foreign languages would improve communication and cooperation with neighbouring French-speaking countries and other international partners.

Lieutenant General Agyapong said Ghana’s 48-year contribution to the peacekeeping mission demonstrated the country’s enduring commitment to international peace and security.

He said Ghana remained committed to considering potential roles in Southern Lebanon beyond UNIFIL, underscoring the country’s continued interest in supporting peace and stability in the region.

On her part, Madam Dimé-Labille reaffirmed France’s commitment to deepening its defence partnership with Ghana and expressed appreciation for Ghana’s acquisition of French-made Airbus H175 and H165 helicopters, as well as the Dassault Falcon 6X executive jet.

She said the acquisitions presented opportunities for further cooperation in aviation and regional security.

The Ambassador also expressed France’s readiness to support the training of French-language instructors to promote the teaching and learning of the language in Ghana.

On international peacekeeping, Madam Dimé-Labille highlighted the security situation in Southern Lebanon and the role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate is scheduled to end in 2027.

She paid tribute to Ghanaian peacekeepers who had served in the mission since its establishment in 1978, with particular recognition of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Erskine, the first Force Commander of UNIFIL.

Judith Twumwaa, ISD