The US Defense Department has established a Defense Cooperation Office in Ghana to facilitate security assistance in terms of equipment transfers, training opportunities and military-related humanitarian assistance projects. The Ghana office is the sixth to be established in sub-Saharan Africa. Others are located in Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Opening the offices in Accra yesterday, Maj. Gen. Craig Rasmussen, Director of Logistics and Security Assistance, Headquarters US European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, said the office strates the US government's commitment to cooperative military engagement with Ghana. He said, "Ghana has been a staunch and reliable partner; a partnership which will be strengthened by this office."

He said the US Defense Department over the past two years has transferred $1.4m worth of military accoutrements to Ghana in addition to three ships. One of the ships was used to transport Ghanaian troops and equipment to Sierra Leone on a UN Peacekeeping Mission. "Ghana has also been granted credit for purchases of military equipment through the foreign military financing program."

Present at the brief ceremony was the Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Edward Akita, and the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lt. Gen. Seth Obeng among other top brass of the military. Mr. Akita said the positioning of the office in Ghana indicates the amount of trust the US government has in the new administration. He said it would help open new avenues for the GAF in terms of information and technology.

The US government has over the years been assisting the military in Ghana through exchange programs and joint training among others. The International Military Exchange and Training (IMET) program for instance has placed over 200 members of the GAF in courses at the US Army Command and Staff College, the Naval War College, the Air Command and Staff College, the Naval Training Center among others.

Its Humanitarian Assistance projects have included the construction of the Sekondi Clinic, funds for an AIDS hospice in Tamale, health clinic in Wa and funding for a community self-help projects, such as school classroom blocks and teachers' quarters in the country among others. Lt. Col. Kim Hooper would man the Defense Cooperation Office.