Ghana has signed a security and defense partnership with the European Union, becoming the first African country to formalize such an agreement as it seeks to bolster its response to rising insecurity across West Africa.

Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang pointed to the recent killing of Ghanaian traders in neighboring Burkina Faso as evidence of the growing security risks facing the region. She said deeper coordination with European partners would be critical to maintaining stability in the Sahel and the broader sub-region.

The agreement expands cooperation between Ghana and the EU in areas including counterterrorism, conflict prevention and cybersecurity, reflecting what officials described as a widening scope of shared security priorities.
As part of the partnership, the EU will supply military equipment—such as drones, vehicles and motorcycles—to support Ghana’s security operations. The vice president said the assets would be deployed strategically to strengthen the country’s response to emerging threats.

Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, said the deliveries form part of a €50 million support package extended to Ghana since 2023 to enhance its counterterrorism capacity. She added that the agreement would deepen coordination as regional governments grapple with escalating instability.

Source:TheDotNews