Participants after the programme
Ghana and the European Union (EU) will on March 24, 2026, sign a landmark Defence and Security Partnership Agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in regional security, counter-extremism, and governance.
The Agreement, expected to be signed in Accra, will be the first of its kind between the EU and an African country.
The Deputy Head of Delegation and Political, Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to Ghana, Jonas Claes, disclosed this in an interview with The Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of the Second Steering Committee Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Peace, Security and Governance Project in Accra.
Launched in 2024, the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project, funded by the EU, seeks to address security and governance in West Africa by enhancing early conflict detection and security reform, electoral support, and inclusive processes.
Mr. Claes said the partnership formed part of broader efforts by the EU to deepen cooperation with Ghana in addressing emerging global and regional security threats. He explained that the Agreement would cover key areas such as regional security, prevention of violent extremism, cyber-security, disinformation, and illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
“This will be a political commitment between the European Union and Ghana in which we commit to closer collaboration on a number of important topics,” he said.
According to him, the Agreement would lay the foundation for enhanced collaboration, information sharing, and possible financial and technical support in the years ahead. Mr. Claes noted that although the political agreement itself would not come with specific funding commitments, it would pave the way for expanded partnerships and increased support for security initiatives in Ghana.
He said in recent years, the EU had significantly scaled up its security cooperation with Ghana.
Addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the meeting, Mr. Claes said both Europe and Africa shared common interests in promoting peace, democratic governance, and regional integration. He noted that ECOWAS continued to play a critical role in promoting regional stability, conflict prevention, and democratic transitions in West Africa.
The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, in remarks delivered on his behalf, underscored the importance of collective action in addressing emerging security challenges in the region. He said threats such as terrorism, banditry, cybercrime, and electoral violence required stronger coordination among member states and development partners.
Dr. Musah noted that support to national early warning centres across the region had improved threat detection and response capabilities, enabling member states to prevent and mitigate conflicts more proactively.
The meeting brought together representatives from ECOWAS member states, development partners, civil society organisations, and security institutions to review progress and discuss strategies for strengthening peace and stability in West Africa.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshoft, reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting peace and stability initiatives in West Africa.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE & HILDA NSAMI
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