A high-level United States security delegation has visited Ghana to strengthen bilateral cooperation in domestic, maritime and border security, amid growing U.S. efforts to deepen security partnerships across Africa.
Assistant Secretary of War Daniel Zimmerman and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General John Brennan, were in Ghana from August 6 to 8 for discussions with senior Ghanaian officials on strengthening the capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security institutions.
The visit formed part of a broader U.S. engagement with African partners and followed the delegation’s participation in the second Joint Angolan-American Defense Cooperation Committee (DEFCOM) in Luanda, Angola, from August 5 to 6.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, discussions focused on U.S.-Ghana security cooperation and efforts to enhance Ghana’s capabilities in domestic, maritime and border security, as well as its ability to respond to regional security threats.
Mr. Zimmerman, who was making his first visit to Ghana, said the engagement reflected high-level U.S. interest in working with the Ghana Armed Forces to strengthen the country’s capacity to protect its national sovereignty and address emerging regional security challenges.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Rolf Olson said the visit was part of a broader security partnership involving joint training exercises, African land and maritime security summits, and medical and educational exchanges.
He noted that the U.S. Embassy had also hosted delegations from the Naval Medical Research Unit and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies during the week as part of efforts to strengthen military medical readiness and professional education.
The latest engagement follows visits to Ghana earlier this year by the AFRICOM Commander and the NAVAF-NAVEUR Commander, highlighting continued high-level U.S. engagement with Ghana on security matters.
The United States said the visit reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s security priorities and strengthening the wider U.S.-Africa partnership on regional stability and security.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
