The long-standing partnership between Ghana and the United States remains firm and will continue to stand though many countries on the continent are regressing into dictatorship.

General Townsend who doubles as Commander of the U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) gave this assurance in a briefing following the 2022 African Chiefs OF Defence (CHOD) Conference, themed “Shared Investment for a Shared Future.”

Highlighting the extension of terrorists, ISIS, and Alqaeda activities in Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Togo, General Townsend admits: “the United States has provided Ghana with a lot of security aid, and is prepared to intensify its support to Ghana in the fight against a military takeover.”

General Townsend added that the U.S government is also researching Ghana’s military equipment needs and measures to support its acquisition. This will enable Ghana to meet security tasks in a changing environment. Last year, the U.S government sent training teams to incorporate advanced intelligence exercises into Ghana’s security service.

Africa has recorded six successful coups in 2020 alone. The latest is the military coup in Burkina Faso which took place less than a month ago. Burkina Faso followed Mali, where a coup in September 2020 was succeeded by a second in May 2021 and Guinea, last September. Several factors account for violence and insurgency in Africa. However, in the Sahel region, countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have seen successive governments characterized by corruption with impunity and disorganization of state resources whiles the majority of the citizens continue to live in hardship.

Peace is critical to development. During military juntas, there is a break in all aspects of development. Lives and properties are lost, people are displaced and hope for life is shuttered. Local businesses collapse and foreign investors are forced to withdraw. The aftermath is often severe hardship for citizens as evidenced in Afghanistan and many other nations.

The CHOD Conference provides a platform for the senior military leadership to deliberate on issues and share best practices. In his opening remarks, General Townsend noted “our partnership with Africa is a partnership of friends, working together to address social-economic, and security challenges.” He, therefore, charged all African partners to get involved in the fight for peace as being united is the only way to solve our problems.

REFERENCE;

Information from the U.S Africa Command and eastasiaforum.org was used in this report.