Ghana has signed a new defence cooperation agreement with the European Union, as security concerns grow across West Africa due to rising militant activity in neighbouring states.
The deal was formalised in Accra by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ghana’s Vice-President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. It focuses on strengthening collaboration in key areas including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and border security.
Ghana becomes the first African country to enter into such a security arrangement with the EU, a move officials say reflects deepening ties and shared concerns over regional stability.
Although Ghana has largely avoided major militant attacks, countries around it—including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—have seen escalating violence linked to groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State.
EU officials say the agreement is designed to help Ghana prevent the spread of extremism by boosting its defensive capabilities and improving coordination with regional partners. As part of the support package, the EU has supplied military equipment including drones, anti-drone systems, bomb disposal vehicles, and motorcycles.
Security analysts warn that militant groups operating in the Sahel frequently move across porous borders, sometimes using Ghana as a transit route for regrouping or logistics when under pressure elsewhere.
With millions displaced by violence in the region, particularly in Burkina Faso, the agreement underscores growing urgency to contain the crisis before it spreads further along the West African coast.
