The United States government has announced a US$3million in U.S. foreign assistance funding, as part of its support to the country, toward the enhancement of law enforcement.
The funds are meant 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 U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Kirsten Madison, disclosed this when three high-level officials of the U.S. joined the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, and National Security Coordinator Joshua Kyeremeh to inaugurate the National Border Fusion Centre and attend the 6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting.
The National Border Fusion Centre will serve as an information-sharing hub for border security to facilitate informed, rapid decision-making. This is one of many collaborations under SGI.

Assistant Secretary Madison underlined the value of this bilateral effort. She said: “With shared common values, our partnership and cooperation are underpinned by our joint commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law”.

During the 6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting that took place at the West Africa Regional Training Centre in Accra, the Ghanaian and U.S. officials emphasised both countries’ commitment to improving security sector governance in Ghana.

The U.S. Government’s Security Governance Initiative (SGI) Ghana Head of Delegation, Ambassador Michael 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”.

He also encouraged the SGI Steering Committee to continue focusing on implementation.
The SGI is a partnership between the government of Ghana and United States, aimed at improving the effectiveness of Ghana’s security sector and enabling conditions for national prosperity.

Under SGI, the United States has provided more than US$35million 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, training and workshops at the strategic and operational levels, and material support.

Prior to the event, Assistant Secretary Madison and Ambassador Arietti visited the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, to discuss bilateral efforts to advance mutual priorities in the law enforcement and security sectors.

They also met the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, and Ghana Police Service (GPS) International Relations Directorate (IRD) Director, Baba Saanid Adamu. In the meetings, Assistant Secretary Madison discussed continued U.S. assistance through the International Police Peacekeeping Operation Support programme, 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 in strengthening security and justice sector institutions to the Ghanaian people’s benefit and prosperity.

The U.S. officials were in the country to among others promote bilateral efforts in the areas of border, maritime, police peacekeeping, cybersecurity and the administration of justice to build capable and resilient security and justice sector institutions, and also included U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Assistant Commissioner, Erik Moncayo.
During their visit, the three officials joined U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, in multiple bilateral engagements in the security sphere.

Credit: B&FT online

(By Kizito CUDJOE)