Ghana, US Reaffirm Defence and Security Partnership
Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with the United States to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
The Minister for Defence, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, made the commitment when the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Ghana, H.E. Rolf Olson, led a delegation on a courtesy call on him to reaffirm the enduring bilateral defence and security partnership between Ghana and the United States.
Mr Adjei expressed appreciation for the consistent support provided by the United States to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), particularly in the areas of logistics, institutional development and peacekeeping.
He said the support had contributed to strengthening Ghana’s capacity as a dependable contributor to United Nations peace operations and broader regional security initiatives.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the importance of joint operational engagements between the Ghana Armed Forces and the US military, noting that such engagements had enhanced interoperability and strengthened the resilience of personnel in responding to evolving security threats.
He stressed the need for sustained collaboration and intelligence sharing between the two countries to address security challenges confronting the sub-region, including piracy, illegal fishing and cross-border trafficking.
Mr Adjei commended the US partnership with the Ghana Navy, particularly the provision of Defender-class boats to enhance maritime domain awareness, intensify patrols and protect Ghana’s vital maritime trade corridors.
He called for an expansion of bilateral defence assistance, particularly in technology transfer and cyber defence, to enable Ghana to respond effectively to emerging and evolving security vulnerabilities.
The Minister also disclosed Ghana’s interest in establishing a specialised drone academy to strengthen surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities across critical operational areas.
Responding, H.E. Rolf Olson reaffirmed the US Government’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He said the United States would continue to support Ghana’s democratic stability and peace by strengthening the capacity of its security institutions and promoting multinational cooperation.
The two sides also expressed satisfaction with ongoing joint exercises and training exchanges and pledged to further strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism capacity building and maritime security initiatives across the Gulf of Guinea.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
