The Government of Ghana has handed over engineering equipment and supplies to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to support ongoing reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which displaced thousands and caused extensive damage across the Caribbean island.
The donation underscores Ghana’s commitment to strengthening South–South cooperation and deepening its diplomatic ties within the Caribbean. It also builds on Ghana’s earlier deployment of 54 military engineers from the Ghana Armed Forces’ 14 Engineer Brigade under Engineer Contingent One, tasked with providing technical expertise to support Jamaica’s recovery efforts.
The engineering supplies were presented on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama by a government delegation led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, H.E. Kamina Johnson Smith. The presentation took place during a working visit to Luana Camp on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Since their deployment, Ghanaian engineers have been actively engaged in humanitarian reconstruction works, including roofing and structural rehabilitation of damaged buildings across St. Elizabeth Parish. Communities benefiting from the intervention include Middle Quarters, Black River, New Holland and surrounding towns, where efforts are underway to restore homes and critical infrastructure affected by the storm.
During the visit, the delegation received first-hand briefings on the progress of operations and assessed the welfare of the Ghanaian troops on the ground. They also toured several project sites, commending the engineers for their professionalism, technical competence and collaborative approach, which officials noted has contributed significantly to restoring normalcy in affected communities.
Minister Ablakwa was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi; the Chief of the Army Staff, Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu; and Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Caribbean, H.E. Kwasi Kyei Darkwah.
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, struck Jamaica on October 28 after cutting across Haiti and Cuba, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. In Jamaica alone, the hurricane caused widespread damage, particularly in the western regions. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), approximately 32,500 people were displaced, more than 40 lives were lost, and total economic losses across the affected countries are estimated at US$8.8 billion.
The storm severely impacted infrastructure, disconnecting nearly 500,000 Jamaica Public Service customers from the national electricity grid. An estimated 4.8 million tonnes of debris blocked major roads, disrupting access to schools, hospitals, farms and markets, and significantly slowing humanitarian response efforts.
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