U.S. and Ghana partner to Build Capable and Resilient Security and Justice Sector Institutions
The National Border Fusion Center will serve as an information-sharing hub
for border security to facilitate informed, rapid decision-making
ACCRA, Ghana, January 23, 2020/ -- The
United States and Ghana continue bilateral efforts in the areas of
border, maritime, police peacekeeping, cyber security, and the
administration of justice to build capable and resilient security and
justice sector institutions. Three high-level officials – U.S.
Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison, the U.S.
Government’s Security Governance Initiative (SGI) Ghana Head of
Delegation Ambassador Michael Arietti, and U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Acting Assistant Commissioner Erik Moncayo – visited Accra
from January 19-23, 2020. During their visit, the three officials
joined U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan in multiple
bilateral engagements in the security sphere.
On Wednesday, January 22, the U.S. officials joined Ghanaian Minister of Defense Dominic Nitiwul and National Security Coordinator Joshua
Kyeremeh to inaugurate the National Border Fusion Center and attend the
6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting.
The National Border Fusion Center will serve as an information-sharing
hub for border security to facilitate informed, rapid decision-making.
This is one of many collaborations under SGI. In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Madison underlined the value of this bilateral effort: “With
shared common values, our partnership and cooperation are underpinned by our joint commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the
rule of law.” Assistant Secretary Madison also reaffirmed the U.S.
government’s support by announcing an additional $3 million in U.S.
foreign assistance funding to continue efforts to improve the capacity
of law enforcement, promote the rule of law and the administration of
justice, and combat transnational financial crime.
The 6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting took place at the West Africa
Regional Training Center in Accra. The senior Ghanaian and U.S.
officials emphasized both countries’ commitment to improving security
sector governance in Ghana. In his remarks, Ambassador Arietti noted
that “Ghana’s long-standing partnership with the United States, coupled
with a shared belief in the value of strong security institutions, has
enabled a smooth and productive partnership under SGI,” and encouraged
the SGI Steering Committee to continue to focus on implementation.
SGI is a partnership between the Government of Ghana and the United
States aimed at improving the effectiveness of Ghana’s security sector
and enabling the conditions for national prosperity. Under SGI, the
United States has provided more than $35 million to strengthen border,
maritime, and cyber security, as well as to improve the administration
of justice. These efforts have included technical assistance, study
visits to the United States and Kenya, trainings and workshops at the
strategic and operational levels, and material support.
On Tuesday, January 21, Assistant Secretary Madison and Ambassador
Arietti paid visits to the Minister of National Security Albert
Kan-Dapaah to discuss bilateral efforts to advance mutual priorities in
the law enforcement and security sectors.
On Thursday, January 23, Assistant Secretary Madison met
Inspector-General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh and Ghana Police Service (GPS) International Relations Directorate (IRD) Director Baba Saanid
Adamu. In these meetings, Assistant Secretary Madison discussed
continued U.S. assistance through the International Police Peacekeeping
Operation Support program which to date has trained over 1,400 personnel from eight deployed Formed Police Units to the United Nations Mission
in South Sudan, as well as mechanics and police trainers.
The visit underscored the U.S. Government’s commitment to partnering
with Ghana to strengthen security and justice sector institutions to the benefit and prosperity of the Ghanaian people.
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