US has no plans to establish military base in Ghana

News/ Ghana (Kumasi, Ghana) Sep 2 (Futball Surgery News)- The US boast a huge military presence in Africa with undertone ambition of extending its forces settlement to other parts of the region including Ghana after Niger breakup but practically a US general says America has no plans to open a military base in Ghana.

If this true, the said US plan will come as a major regional security concern for Ghana who is at the edge of signs of terrorism and extreme Islamist activities especially in areas near Cote d’Ivoire and Benin borders.

Kenneth Ekman, the Director of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element (ACE), told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview that many people had been asking questions on US military presence in Ghana but contrary to that, he said, the United States had no such plans.

As US probes for plan B after military and security deal collapse with Niger, Ghana is one of the countries the US has engaged to potentially replace Niger. US troops are leaving Niger as instructed by the African country but operation of partnership with West African countries is already underway in US preservation and heightening of its massive presence in the African region.

After denying America military base project in Ghana, Ekman states US intention in Ghana is to reposition some forces just as it has done in Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Chad.

Major General Ekman, who is based in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, to oversee the complete, safe and orderly withdrawal of over a thousand US forces and equipment, accorded Graphic Online the exclusive interview during a visit to Ghana after visiting neighbouring Nigeria.

He said his visit to Ghana underscored the strength of the US-Ghana partnership and reaffirmed shared values and commitment to ongoing collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity in West Africa.

Major General Ekman has so far met with government officials and the military leadership, including the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah, on shared visions for future bilateral engagements, coordination and interoperability in Africa.

The Director of ACE told Graphic Online at the US Embassy in Accra last Tuesday that US security relations with Ghana were now transitioning, with less emphasis on training to more logistical support.

To this end, he disclosed that the US would deliver a number of military equipment to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in a few months.

He explained that the idea to support GAF with military equipment resulted from discussions he had with his Ghanaian counterparts on the form of partnership the US could build with Ghana.

Maj. Gen. Ekman pointed out that the US would hold a similar exercise in the maritime domain since Ghana was a maritime power.

Touching on his visit to Ghana, Maj. Gen. Ekman said it was also to discuss regional security, counter-terrorism and Ghana’s ability to export security in many ways outside its borders.

“The primary focus of my visit here, is how Ghana exerts its role and strength to contribute to a regional approach against Sahelian base extremist organisations. Your leaders have gone over some of their plans for this.

They’ve talked about things like border security and capacities, where they still need more support. And they talked about training. So, getting that partnership right now in Ghana, that’s the primary focus of this visit,” the Director of ACE said.

Maj. Gen. Ekman, however, expressed disappointment at how the sub-region was increasingly being disintegrated security-wise and diplomatically, adding that his goal during the visit was to meet Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence of countries that surround the Sahel on how transparently the US could work with them to see what might work better in dealing with the insurgency and militant activities in the sub-region.

US military was kicked out from Niger base in Niamey in July but America continues to prospect and establish its presence in Africa.

Niger has opted to have military partnership with US rivals Russia but top U.S. general Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Botswana mid June to meet with African chiefs of defense.

Brown’s trip to Botswana was Washington’s move to recover the crucial loss from Niger and to maintain its level of presence in Africa.

Brown highlighted in his visit to Botswana that he sees some opportunities in other African countries where the US can establish partnership and that brought Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Ghana into the picture.

“I do see some opportunities. And there’s countries that we’re already working with in West Africa,” Brown told reporters who traveled with him.

Building on those relationships may “provide opportunities for us to posture some of the capability we had in Niger in some other locations,” he added.

In the interview, the US Air Force General failed to mention countries he was going to speak with about the military deals.

But a U.S. official had told Reuters that President Joe Biden’s administration had had initial conversations with countries Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Futball Surgery News has learnt that the Pentagon is in no rush to quickly find an adequate replacement for Niger where an ultra-modern military base with more than $100 million cost was constructed.

The US is also expected not to open big military projects in Africa in the near future.

But Joe Biden administration’s high aim to secure regional securities threatened by political instability, and combat terrorism and Islamist activities where fast pacing in West Africa means US could be forced to open military bases in Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

America is expected to deploy troops in Ghana along the line and establish a military project depending on the severity of aftermath events including terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea region.