Ghana and the European Union (EU) have signed a historic security and defense partnership in Accra on Tuesday, with Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, representing the EU, signing the agreement.

Officials indicate that this accord, the first of its kind between the EU and an African country, aims to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and crisis management. It comes amid ongoing security challenges in parts of West Africa, particularly due to the expansion of armed groups from the Sahel.

As part of the partnership, the EU has provided Ghana with security equipment, including surveillance drones and anti-drone systems, within a broader support program valued at approximately €50 million.

Ghanaian authorities have emphasized that the strategic agreement will help enhance national capacities to address emerging threats, including porous borders and the growing activity of transnational criminal networks.

The initiative aligns with regional efforts to contain the spread of extremist groups southward in Africa, with particular focus on the Gulf of Guinea.