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Ghana and the United States (U.S.) would from April 26, 2016 launch a joint readiness exercise

towards strengthening the effectiveness of government entities and security forces in responding to international threats such as trafficking and terrorism.

A statement from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ghana said the U.S. Government had been working directly with the Government of Ghana to plan the exercise, dubbed ‘Epic Guardian 2016.’

Personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces would be the participants, alongside their counterparts from the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and the Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA).

The statement said the training would increase Ghana’s capacity in areas such as Communications, Logistics, Intelligence Gathering and Analysis, Crisis Planning and Response, and Inter-Operability—all with the goal of providing for greater security and stability for Ghana and the region.

The eight-day exercise would take place primarily on Ghanaian military premises, the statement said.

The training would involve personnel reacting to a simulated crisis, and it would cover a broad range of topics, including theatre strategic planning, intermediate support, logistics, intelligence, and strategic communications.

The training would consist of Staff Crisis Action Planning, Deployment of Forces, Completion of Field Exercises, and the Redeployment of Forces, the statement said.

“International threats require international solutions,” the statement quoted the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, as saying. “Epic Guardian is an opportunity to strengthen our bilateral relationship and to demonstrate our long-term commitment to supporting Ghana as it works to counter international threats and ensure stability and security for Ghanaians.”

Mr Jackson reiterated the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting partner nations and regional allies in Africa, saying America was proud of the robust and wide-ranging partnership with Ghana.

Ghana has previously hosted many joint and multilateral exercises, including the Western Accord 13 and Obangame Express 2015.

“Security co-operation is a vital part of the U.S.–Ghana partnership,” said Jackson. “We thank the Government of Ghana for its ongoing co-operation to help increase regional security and we will continue to work together with our African partners to promote stability on the African continent.”