The United States has made a pledge to provide an additional US$3 million foreign assistance in a bid to boost Ghana's security.
According to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Kirsten D. Madison, the move follows the longstanding partnership between the US and Ghana which intends to improve Ghana's capability to manage and integrate its border operations.
“As part of the United States’ commitment to Ghana’s security, The U.S will provide an additional $3 million foreign assistance funding to build upon the successes of our joint efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement, promote the rule of law and the administration of justice, and combat transnational financial crime.”
The U.S., the Diplomat disclosed, had earlier provided more than $35 million under the Security Governance Institute (SGI) to further strengthen Ghana's border, maritime, and cyber security, as well as to improve the administration of justice.
"We have a lot of work left to do together and I am confident that we have a rock solid foundation to build upon our relationship with you," she added.
Kirsten D. Madison disclosed this at the commissioning of the newly inaugurated National Border Fusion Center at the Security Governance Institute (SGI) on January 21 in Accra.
Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, was of the view that the 23 skilled analysts from the various border-related agencies will enhance smooth coordination and allow government to synchronize its efforts and ultimately provide useful analysis for senior decision-makers.
Dominic Nitiwul in an interview with GhanaWeb noted that security agencies are faced with difficulties in curbing crimes noting the lack of equipment as a major setback.
“I’ve always said that the security gaps are many. A gap in making sure that our has enough cover, our maritime security has enough cover, to making sure that our police are well resourced to be able to do what they need to do, our immigration are protected first, themselves and can protect us as well and have the equipment.”
“All these organisations have certain gaps but we do not have the equipment to do it at once. So it makes the work difficult.”
Thus bringing the agencies under one roof, he further noted, will help fight crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal migration, terrorism, piracy and many other transnational crimes.
