Accra, GHANA— On March 26, 2021, United States Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan and Chief of Army Staff Major General Thomas Oppong-Pepprah participated in a ceremony highlighting the official transfer of a Motorola radio communication network for use by the Ghana Armed Forces at Bundase Training Camp. The package, valued at $300,000, was funded through the Department of State Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and included installation and new equipment training.
The equipment provides the Ghana Armed Forces with critical communications capabilities that will enhance their pre-deployment training in advance of United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. The United States has partnered for over two decades with the Ghana Armed Forces in supporting capacity building efforts for peacekeeping missions and regional stability operations.
This partnership between the U.S. Embassy and the Ghana Armed Forces reflects the enduring security cooperation relationship between the United States and Ghana. In her remarks, Ambassador Sullivan commented that “When it comes to peacekeeping, the Ghana Armed Forces are always at the ready. Ghana’s soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women play a critical role in regional stability and continue to raise the standard for professionalism in the conduct of peacekeeping missions. The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with the Ghana Armed Forces on this and many other endeavors.”
GPOI is a State Department-funded U.S. government security assistance program focused on strengthening the international capacity and capabilities of partner countries and regional organizations to execute United Nations and regional peace operations. GPOI’s mission is to enhance partner countries’ self-sufficient peace operations proficiencies and build the capacity of the UN and regional organizations to conduct such missions.
GPOI Donation Ceremony – Radio Communication Network
As Prepared Remarks for U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan
Bundase Training Camp – Friday, March 26, 2021 10:00am
Chief of Army Staff – Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah;
Director of Army Peacekeeping Operations – Colonel Joseph Amanor;
Senior Officers of the Ghana Armed Forces;
U.S. Embassy colleagues;
All Protocols Observed:
Thank you for the warm welcome to Bundase Training Camp! This trip to Bundase is long overdue, and I’m truly pleased to be here today. Believe it or not, I had the honor of visiting Bundase Training Camp during my previous assignment in Ghana over 20 years ago. I must say, things have changed; and changed for the better.
This outdooring today is proof of that change, and proof of our longstanding partnership in security cooperation activities. For me, it’s personally gratifying to see how this relationship has grown from strength to strength over the past two decades plus.
Also, looking at all the development here at Bundase Training Camp calls to mind the Akan proverb – Obi nnim obrempon ahyease – “Nobody knows the beginning of a great man.” I never could have guessed how far this training facility would have come since my last visit. I’m very impressed!
And now, I’m honored to represent the United States government’s effort to add to the development of the Camp. Today, we are here to outdoor a state-of-the-art Motorola communication network package funded through the U.S. Department of State and the Global Peace Operations Initiative or GPOI program. The package, valued at $300,000, also included installation and training on the new equipment for technicians of the First Company Signal Regiment.
This equipment provides a critical asset for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to use to enhance the pre-deployment training ahead of United Nations peacekeeping missions. The new communication network also deepens the partnership between the United States and Ghana in supporting regional stability and peacekeeping endeavors.
When it comes to peacekeeping, the GAF are always at the ready. Ghana’s soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women play a critical role in regional stability and continue to raise the standard for professionalism in the conduct of peacekeeping missions. The U.S. Embassy is proud to team up with the GAF on this and many other endeavors. Thank you for that robust partnership!
I hope I will not have to wait another 20 years before making my next trip to Bundase Training Camp. In fact, I plan to return later this year when work is complete on the U.S.-funded water pipeline that is bringing running water to this facility and the nearby community!
With that, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Senior Officers, colleagues, and friends… It’s my great honor to officially outdoor the newest communication equipment capability for the Ghana Armed Forces and Bundase Training Camp.
Thank you.
