The European Union on Wednesday handed over a 50-million-euro ($52-million) military package intended to bolster Ghanaian security forces, as West Africa faces mounting threats from armed groups and jihadists.
The security situation in the region has deteriorated in recent years, with violent extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group threatening to expand their reach from the Sahel into coastal nations like Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Benin.
The package includes civil engineering equipment, advanced communication systems, and riverine assets including boats aimed at bolstering Ghana’s border security, intelligence-sharing, and counterterrorism efforts.
It follows the EU’s delivery of 105 militarized vehicles in 2023, with further defense support scheduled through 2026.
Prosper Douglas Bani, Ghana’s national security advisor, said a comprehensive security approach was necessary against “violent extremist groups, the expansion of transnational organized crime networks, and the persistent threat of cross-border instability.”
He said the equipment would also help curb illicit activities such as smuggling and illegal fishing along Ghana’s waterways.