The United States has delivered a major boost to Ghana’s defence capacity with the donation of 14 advanced mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) armoured personnel carriers (APCs), valued at over $6 million, to support counter-terrorism and border security operations.
The handover ceremony, held at Burma Camp in Accra, was a high-profile demonstration of growing defence ties between Washington and Accra. It drew senior officials from both countries, including Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer.
The delivery of the Puma M36 vehicles is part of the U.S. government’s broader strategic investment in West Africa’s security architecture. The MRAPs are designed to protect military personnel in high-threat environments, enhancing troop mobility and survivability against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Palmer underscored the importance of the security partnership, describing the APCs as “a concrete reinforcement of Ghana’s role as a pillar of regional peace and stability.”
“These vehicles are not just tools of protection—they are symbols of trust, shared purpose, and a common vision for a safer world,” she said.
Over the past month, more than 40 Ghanaian military personnel have undergone specialised training in the operation and maintenance of the vehicles, ensuring immediate deployment capability.
Dr Boamah welcomed the donation as both “timely and strategic,” given the evolving security dynamics in the Sahel and across West Africa.
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“This support from the United States speaks volumes about the depth of our bilateral relationship. It enhances our capacity to secure our northern borders and sustain our peacekeeping contributions in volatile regions,” he stated.
Ghana remains a key U.S. partner in the region, actively participating in joint military exercises such as Flintlock and African Lion, and contributing troops to international peacekeeping missions.
Officials from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) affirmed that the collaboration will continue through joint training programmes, logistics support, and intelligence sharing.
The donation comes at a time of heightened vigilance in West Africa amid growing threats from extremist insurgencies in the Sahel and increasing pressure on coastal states to reinforce their internal and border security mechanisms.
In recent years, U.S. support to Ghana’s defence sector has included patrol boats, medical field units, and critical infrastructure upgrades, all aimed at fortifying the country’s security framework.
The ceremony’s coincidence with Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) served as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of international military cooperation in safeguarding peace and democratic values.
