The United States (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has said the US holds Ghana as a “foundational” partner in West Africa.

Mrs Palmer underlined Ghana was a trailblazer in democracy, and had over the years maintained its desire and efforts to safeguarding peace and security in many countries near and far, also.

Addressing the media on Friday, October 11, 2024, in Accra, she said: “Last week in Washington, we had a bilateral high-level security dialogue” with a delegation led by Ghana’s Minister of National Security Albert Kan Dapaah.

Present also were “the Minister of Defence [Dominic Nitiwul], the National Security coordinator, and a delegation of security officials,” she added.

The “great talks” had “was a way of demonstrating that Ghana really is foundational for the United States in West Africa,” Ambassador Palmer highlighted.

She explained: “You’re a democratic model and an exporter of security. You’re the seventh largest peacekeeper in the world. You’re sending important messages to your neighbours about combating violent extremism, about social cohesion, and inclusive economic growth as being important to that, and, also, the importance of democracy to making people feel included and reaping benefits from accountable governments.”

During the Washington meeting, Mrs Virginia Palmer said Ghana and the US “agreed on a really good way forward to deepen our relationship”.

Earlier in Yendi, Thursday, October 10, the Coastal States Stability Mechanism (CSSM) currently covering Ghana, Togo and Benin was launched. The US$40 million regional initiative is spearheaded by the US and Germany. In Ghana, it the programme is focused on the north to prevent and control instability and the spread of violent extremism.

Read: Northern Ghana: US, Germany launch joint initiative to prevent conflict, strengthen communities

Furthermore, “we turned over a mobile hospital in Tamale a couple of weeks ago,” Ambassador Palmer said, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations Anne Witkowsky and the German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, sitting to her left, in that order.

She added: “A couple of boats,” were also given to the Ghana Navy.

“We’re going to be turning over some armoured personnel carriers and a skills house in Daboya soon,” she announced.

Ambassador Palmer said the aforementioned evidenced “the very close partnership we have with the Ghana Armed Forces in the security part of this equation”.