The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has clarified that the defence partnership signed between Ghana and the European Union does not include provisions for the establishment of foreign military bases or the stationing of foreign troops on Ghanaian territory.
The clarification follows scores of concern on social media suggesting that the agreement could allow European Union member states to establish a direct military presence in Ghana after the two parties signed a landmark defence pact last month.
In a statement, the Ministry assured that Ghana’s territorial sovereignty remains fully protected under the agreement, dismissing claims of potential foreign military intervention.
“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that the agreement neither provides for the establishment of foreign military bases in Ghana nor does it permit the stationing of foreign troops on Ghanaian soil. Ghana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain fully protected under this arrangement. The cooperation is strictly based on mutual respect, shared interests and Ghana’s national security priorities.”,” the statement noted.
The Ministry explained that the partnership is aimed at enhancing cooperation to address emerging security threats and strengthening Ghana’s national and regional security architecture.
According to the Ministry, the agreement represents a multifaceted security engagement covering key areas where Ghana is steadily building capacity. These include counter-terrorism, maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, cybersecurity, border management, and support for peacekeeping and crisis response operations.
The partnership also includes capacity-building support for Ghana’s security agencies, facilitating technical assistance, specialised training, and the provision of equipment to strengthen operational capabilities.
The Ministry further indicated that the new arrangement builds on existing security cooperation between Ghana and the European Union, which has over the years supported governance, security, and stability programmes in Ghana and across the West African sub-region.
The agreement was signed following a high-level visit by Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative and Vice President, and her delegation to Ghana. Ghana subsequently became the first African country to sign a defence pact with the European Union, granting access to a €50 million security support package aimed at strengthening defence capabilities.
These efforts form part of the European Union’s broader regional strategy to foster security, stability, and sustainable development across West Africa and the Sahel. A key initiative within this framework is the Alliance for the Sahel, a partnership involving the European Union, Germany, and France to coordinate development and security assistance in the region.
The European Union has also pledged financial and humanitarian support for displaced populations and host communities in coastal countries including Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, aimed at addressing the spillover effects of instability from the Sahel.
Additionally, under the European Union Strategic Defence Initiative in the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana’s Army Combat Training School recently hosted a specialised Training-of-Trainers programme on assault river-crossing operations, designed to strengthen operational readiness within the Ghana Armed Forces.
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