Ghana and US Government Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Implement Joint Border Management

General News on Thursday, January 24, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-01-24

Ghana and the US government signed a memorandum of understanding to improve cybersecurity, border management and other critical security infrastructure in the country.

The US government is committed to strengthening security oversight and strengthening Ghana's ability to counter foreign threats.

At the ceremony in Accra on Thursday, 24 January, Parliament Speaker Professor Mike Oquaye said the initiative would serve as a legal framework for border management activities between the two countries.

He also said that the rise of terrorism in our neighboring countries was causing great concern, hence the need for global cooperation to badist in the establishment and strengthening of institutions.

According to him, this would counter the emerging and existing threats to security at the country's borders.

"The rise of terrorism calls for major security concerns, which require global badistance to enhance border security and growth. Good governance would be ensured when our borders were safe and this partnership would be needed to guide and manage our security activities. " He stated.

Professor Mike Oquaye hopes that the US Security Governance Initiative in Ghana will improve operations, coordination and communication with respect to the country's security.

In the wake of recent terrorist attacks in neighboring Burkina Faso, Ghana has taken steps to strengthen security in the country, including at its borders.

In 2014, the United States and six countries – Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Tunisia – agreed on partnerships to improve the security sector of their respective governments. To this end, the Security Governance Initiative (SIG) has been launched.

In 2016, Ghana and the United States signed a Common Country Action Plan (JCAP), which identified three priority areas of the partnership: maritime security, border security and cybersecurity.

The GIS approach is based on the recognition that sustainable solutions to the challenges of the security sector require the vision and commitment of multiple stakeholders.

The approach focuses on partner country priorities where US aid can have the greatest impact and where it can complement and leverage other efforts in the country.