Two senior U.S. defence officials have visited Ghana to reaffirm Washington’s security partnership with Accra and explore ways to strengthen the country’s capacity to address domestic and regional security challenges, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and copied to The Chronicle.
Assistant Secretary of War, Daniel Zimmerman and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General John Brennan, were in Ghana from August 6 through 8, 2026.
The visit focused on strengthening US-Ghana security cooperation, particularly in the areas of domestic security, maritime security, border protection and regional security capabilities, according to the U.S. Mission in Accra.
The delegation held meetings with senior Ghanaian officials as part of efforts to deepen bilateral security cooperation and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The visit followed the delegation’s participation in the second Joint Angolan-American Defense Cooperation Committee (DEFCOM), held in Luanda, Angola, from August 5 to 6.
For Assistant Secretary Zimmerman, who was making his first visit to Ghana, the engagement demonstrated the high level of interest Washington attaches to its security partnership with Accra.
“This visit reflects high-level U.S. interest in partnering with the Ghana Armed Forces to strengthen our partner’s capacity to protect national sovereignty and address regional security challenges,” he said.
The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Rolf Olson, said the latest engagement formed part of what he described as the two countries’ “robust security cooperation.”
He cited the co-hosting of African land and maritime forces summits, participation in joint training exercises and efforts to build partner capacity through medical and educational exchanges as areas of existing cooperation.
The U.S. Embassy also disclosed that it had, during the week, hosted delegations from the Naval Medical Research Unit and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies as part of efforts to strengthen military medical readiness and military education.
The latest visit is part of a series of high-level U.S. military engagements with Ghana this year. According to the U.S. Mission, it follows visits by the AFRICOM Commander and the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples (NAVAF-NAVEUR) earlier in the year.
The U.S. Mission said the engagements underscored Washington’s continued commitment to supporting Ghana’s security priorities.
It added that the broader US-Africa partnership was aimed at advancing shared objectives of stability, prosperity and security across the region.
The latest engagement comes as Ghana continues to play a role in regional security efforts, including cooperation with international partners to address maritime, border and other transnational security threats.
