Ghana has emerged as the first African nation to establish a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union (EU), a strategic initiative designed to enhance the country’s ability to combat terrorism and insecurity in West Africa.
During the ceremony held on Tuesday, March 24, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang underscored the recent murder of Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for coordinated regional security efforts.
She stressed that enhanced collaboration with the EU is essential for sustaining peace and stability throughout the Sahel and the West African sub-region.
“This illustrates the deepening partnership between Ghana and the European Union in addressing the evolving security challenges, particularly in our sub-region and across the Sahel,” she stated.
Under the terms of the agreement, the EU will supply military assets, including drones, vehicles, and motorcycles, to strengthen Ghana’s security operations. The Vice President assured that these resources would be deployed in a strategic manner to enhance the country’s capacity to respond to emerging threats.
High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, remarked that the equipment is part of a €50 million support package allocated to Ghana since 2023 to bolster counter-terrorism initiatives. She also pointed out ongoing EU efforts to assist regional nations in tackling increasing insecurity.
“The new agreement will facilitate closer collaboration in areas such as counter-terrorism, conflict prevention, and cybersecurity,” Kallas observed.
