VICENZA, Italy – The commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) visited Ghana Jan. 23-24 to strengthen relationships between the U.S. Army and the Ghana Armed Forces.
During the visit, Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund met with Ghana Armed Forces Chief of Army Staff Maj. Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer to discuss current defense cooperation and opportunities for additional partnership.
“This is my third trip to Ghana in the last two years, and that’s indicative of how many areas we are working together and the great relationship between our land forces,” said Wasmund. “Ghana is a leader in regional security and for a model for how we listen, collaborate and work to enable our partner’s security goals.”
Ghana will, for the third year, host a portion of African Lion in 2024, U.S. Africa Command’s largest combined, jointtraining exercise on the African continent. During the visit, Wasmund invited the Ghana Armed Forces to participate in the training exercise African Lion, SETAF-AF’s premier training exercise on the continent of Africa.
In addition, Ghana will host a SETAF-AF Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) for the second year in a row thatbrings U.S. Army medical professionals to partner and exchange best practices with partner nations.
Ghana also partners closely with the U.S. Army’s 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, with advisors from the brigade advising the Ghana Army on a range of capabilities.
Ghana has partnered with the North Dakota National Guard as part of the State Partnership Program since 2004. Last year, Oppong-Pepprah joined Wasmund and the NDNG Deputy Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Warrior’s Corner for a presentation on the benefits of the relationship to both Ghana and the U.S. Army.
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe & Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis response options in Africa and Europe.
