On Tuesday 24 March in Accra, the European Union concluded its first ‘security and defence’ partnership with an African country. After Iceland, India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Albania, North Macedonia, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Moldova and Australia (see other news), Ghana becomes the twelfth country to sign an agreement of this type. Stemming from the 2022 ‘Strategic Compass’ (see EUROPE 12915/10), this type of partnership aims to establish greater security cooperation that is better adapted to the specific needs of each partner.
“This new agreement allows us to work more closely in areas like counterterrorism, conflict prevention, and cyber-security. These are all areas that matter to our citizens, both in Europe, but as well as here in Ghana”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, speaking in Accra at midday.
On Tuesday, Ghana received a range of military equipment, including surveillance drones, anti-drone systems, weapons and motorbikes, thanks to financial support of €50 million provided to Ghana by the EU since 2023. “A tangible demonstration of what our partnership can deliver”, said Mrs Kallas.
The High Representative underlined the shared concerns of the EU and Ghana with regard to the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe, but it also has consequences that are felt beyond our borders, including here in Ghana. Beyond economic consequences, Russia’s unethical recruitment of African nationals preys on economic hardship”, said Mrs Kallas. And she added that: “Your citizens should not be lured into a war that is not theirs”. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)