US AFRICOM Commander visits Ghana

United States Army General Stephen Townsend

United States Army (US) General Stephen Townsend, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), began a multi-day visit to West Africa that included stops in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire September 20 and 21, 2021.

According to a press release issued by AFRICOM, General Townsend met with government officials and senior military officials to discuss the need for continued cross-border cooperation to improve and maintain security in the region.

“The visits to Ghana and the Ivory Coast have been very productive,” Townsend said.

“I was able to meet with senior African leaders to talk about the importance of continuing our regional approach to addressing security concerns and how we in US Africa Command can help.”

In Ghana, Townsend met with the Air Vice Marshal of Ghana Air Chief Frank Hanson and Air Commodore David Akrong, Air Force Base Commander in Tamale. Townsend also visited soldiers from the US Army’s 2nd Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB), which supports the US Command’s mission in Africa.

The second SFAB provides trainer-advisers who work with security partners across the African continent to increase theater security cooperation efforts.

“SFABs offer a unique capability to command. They provide tailored support to our African partners, ”said US Marine Corps Sgt. Major Richard Thresher, senior enlisted leader, US Africa Command.

“They are in Ghana to train, support and advise the Ghanaian armed forces in support of their operations focused on emerging terrorist threats and border security.”

In Côte d’Ivoire, Townsend met with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Minister of Defense Téné Birahima Ouattara, Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant-General Lassina Doumbia and other Ivorian leaders of the security to discuss cooperative training opportunities. Townsend also visited the International Counterterrorism Training Academy, French acronym AILCT.

The AILCT was created in October 2018 in partnership with France. The academy brings together specialized services to address the security challenges posed by terrorist threats from a regional and global perspective.

The United States Africa Command and our partners in West Africa continue to work towards our common goal of protecting their northern borders from encroachment by terrorist and other violent groups, improving knowledge maritime domain and increase security cooperation in the region.