Ghana Receives 100 Armored Vehicles from EU to Boost Border Security
Ghana has Saturday welcomed a delivery of 100 armored vehicles from the European Union (EU) as part of increased aid aimed at enhancing border security in the coastal West African nations, Excel Magazine International reports.
These countries are grappling with the overflow of conflicts stemming from the Sahel region’s ongoing jihadist turmoil.
The nations along the Gulf of Guinea, namely Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast, have increasingly faced security threats from the Sahel region. The situation escalated following recent coups in Burkina Faso and Niger, where the junta has called for the withdrawal of French troops.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, after a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra, announced that the 105 armored vehicles delivered to Ghana were just the beginning. Future aid will encompass aerial surveillance equipment and electronic warfare systems.
Borrell noted the gravity of the security challenges, stating, “The spillover of insecurity from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea countries is not a risk anymore. It is — sadly — a reality. A reality that our partners cannot — and should not — face alone.”
He further said the EU’s investment will prioritize job creation and services, particularly in northern Ghana, where concerns arise about jihadists exploiting ethnic tensions and economic dissatisfaction to recruit Ghanaian youth.
The EU disclosed that the assistance to Ghana is part of a broader €616 million package dedicated to strengthening the defense and security capabilities of the four coastal nations in the Gulf of Guinea.
While Ghana has not reported any jihadist attacks within its borders, Benin’s military has faced approximately 20 incursions from across the border since 2021, and Togo has also experienced attacks on its northern frontier.
Earlier this year, Ghana deployed an additional 1,000 troops and police to the northern Bawku region to bolster security following an attack in which gunmen killed an immigration officer and wounded two others near the Burkina Faso border.
Officials did not attribute the attack to any specific group, but the region has been marred by simmering ethnic chieftaincy disputes that often escalate into violence.
In a recent incident, gunmen opened fire on a bus in a northern Ghana district near the borders with Burkina Faso and Togo, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals.
The situation in the Sahel has prompted France to commence the withdrawal of its 1,500 troops from Niger, following demands from coup leaders to end their anti-jihadist deployment. This move raises questions about France’s security strategy in Africa and the growing influence of China and Russia in the region.
