Ghana, US meet to discuss progress on Security, Governance Initiative

The governments of United States and Ghana have met in Accra to discuss the progress made so far in its cooperation to enhance security and good governance in the country, ABC News Ghana can report.

The meeting which was the 5th of its kind was held at the West Africa Regional Training Center in Accra and participated by U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan; Ghanaian National Security Coordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh; and retired U.S. Ambassador Michael Arietti, who serves as the U.S. Government’s SGI Ghana Head of Delegation.

The agreement between the two countries focuses on strengthening and promoting mutual benefits in the areas of Maritime Security, Border Management and Integration, and Cybercrime and Cybersecurity.

Speaking at the event, the US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan emphasised the progress made so far and the need for such continuous partnerships.

“Let me assure all of you here today: SGI reforms are strategic reforms: mutually reinforcing, and mutually beneficial to both our countries. That is why the United States continues to stand firm in its commitment to support Ghana in making them” She stated.

Stephanie Sullivan continued, “We’ve made significant progress since the last meeting in September 2018. At that meeting, we outlined a plan to transition from the “design” phase of the JCAP to the “implementation” phase. And in several areas, we have made just that kind of progress.”

Below is the press release issued after the event and copied to ABC News Ghana.

USA and Ghana Host 5th Security Governance Initiative Steering Committee Meeting

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, senior representatives from the governments of the United States and Ghana participated in the 5th Security Governance Initiative (SGI) Steering Committee Meeting at the West Africa Regional Training Center in Accra. The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan; Ghanaian National Security Coordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh; and retired U.S. Ambassador Michael Arietti, who serves as the U.S. Government’s SGI Ghana Head of Delegation.

In their remarks, the senior Ghanaian and American officials underscored both countries’ commitment to improving security sector governance in Ghana. In her remarks, Ambassador Sullivan highlighted the importance of information-sharing to promote security and said that SGI reforms are “strategic, mutually reinforcing, and of mutual benefit.” She added that the United States will continue to stand firm in our partnership with and to support Ghana in making the reforms.

SGI focus area experts briefed Steering Committee members on progress achieved to date and goals established to strengthen mutually shared objectives.

SGI is a partnership between the Government of Ghana and the United States of America aimed at improving the effectiveness of Ghana’s security sector and enabling the conditions for national prosperity. The United States also has SGI partnerships with Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Tunisia.

Under SGI, in 2016 Ghana and the United States signed a Joint Country Action Plan (JCAP), which identified three priority areas of the partnership: Maritime Security, Border Management and Integration, and Cybercrime and Cybersecurity. In addition, Administration of Justice serves as a cross-cutting theme.