Ghana and the European Union will sign a defence and security partnership agreement on March 24 aimed at strengthening cooperation on regional security, countering extremism and improving governance, an EU official said.
The agreement, to be signed in Accra, will be the first defence and security partnership of its kind between the European Union and an African country.
Jonas Claes, deputy head of delegation at the EU Delegation to Ghana, disclosed the plan in an interview with The Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of the second steering committee meeting of the Economic Community of West African States Peace, Security and Governance Project in Accra.
Claes said the partnership forms part of broader EU efforts to deepen cooperation with Ghana in addressing regional and global security threats. Areas of collaboration will include regional security, prevention of violent extremism, cybersecurity, disinformation and illegal mining, known locally 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,” Claes said.
According to him, the agreement will create a framework for enhanced collaboration, including information sharing and potential technical and financial support in the future. While the political agreement itself does not include specific funding commitments, it is expected to open the door to expanded security partnerships.
The EU has significantly increased its security cooperation with Ghana in recent years, Claes said.
The announcement came during a meeting reviewing progress under the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project, which was launched in 2024 with funding from the European Union. The initiative seeks to strengthen conflict prevention, support electoral processes, promote security sector reform and encourage inclusive governance across West Africa.
Speaking at the meeting’s opening ceremony, Claes said Europe and Africa share common interests in promoting peace, democratic governance and regional integration. He noted that ECOWAS continues to play a key role in advancing stability, conflict prevention and democratic transitions in West Africa.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, said collective action is essential to address emerging threats in the region, including terrorism, banditry, cybercrime and electoral violence.
Musah said support for national early warning centers across West Africa has improved the ability of member states to detect threats and respond to potential conflicts more effectively.
The meeting brought together representatives of ECOWAS member states, development partners, civil society groups and security institutions to review progress and discuss strategies to strengthen peace and stability in the region.
Germany’s ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshoft, also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting peace and security initiatives in West Africa.