Kofi Ampeah Woode
The 2-day Republics of Ghana and of South Africa Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in Accra has rounded off after the JDC, together with technocrats, had accessed an earlier agreement between the two, identified challenges, made the appropriate recommendations and proposed new interventions for better collaborations.
The closing ceremony of the 2-day deliberations was presided over by the Deputy Minister for Ghana’s Defence Ministry, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Kwanwoma – Mr Kofi Amankwah-Manu, on Tuesday 30 July 2024, at the Multipurpose Hall of the Command Officers’ Mess, Burma Camp, Accra, Ghana.
The Deputy Minister stated that the three designated Working Groups – Defence Intelligence, Defence Industries, Military to Military – into which the JDC was segmented, engaged in discussions and reached consensus on major parts of plans, providing valuable enhancement to a forward collective and ambitious strategy, for the two countries.
The MP said the various sub-group meetings were characterised by the sharing of knowledge and exchanges of expertise, experiences and new ideas for better collaboration, due to concrete proposals and recommendations made, as well as presentations made by ten (10) companies from South Africa.
Mr Amankwa-Manu expressed the hope that continuous cooperation and engagements would be sustained to enable review of plans and strategies for implementation, for the optimal performance of the two Defence Sectors from the Republics of South Africa and Ghana.
At the end of the summit, key outcomes of a Joint Communique issued by the Ministry of Defence, Ghana, and the Department of Defence, South Africa is as follows:
1. “Both countries agreed to enhance, deepen and strengthen cooperation in defence industries, border security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, maritime security, training and capacity building of personnel among others. We agreed on the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation to effectively address current as well as emerging global and regional challenges of common concern and areas of mutual interest.
2. Defence Industries: We resolved that South African companies present affirmed their willingness and readiness to form Joint Ventures with Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC) and their commitment to enter into skills development and technology transfer agreements.
3. We resolved and reiterated the commitment to take further steps and engage in detail deliberations leading to establishing a formal cooperation between DIHOC and South African Defence Industries.
4. We reiterated that a document will be developed to serve as the basis for defence industries cooperation between the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of South Africa. DIHOC is to constitute a Technical Team to develop a Policy Document within three (3) Months. The document is to be shared with Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) and the Arms Procurement Agency of the South African Department of Defence.
5. We agreed that the South African Government and its Department of Defence will assist South African Defence Industries (SADI) in their engagements with DIHOC to ensure alignment with Ghana’s industry governance structure.
6. DIHOC retains the liberty to select any South African company deemed the best fit for joint ventures, with the understanding that the selected companies will conform to Ghanaian industry governance requirements.
7. We further agreed to engage into details issues pertaining to infrastructure and repairs and how to support and develop indigenous Defence Industries. Other areas of interest include capacity building, maintenance support, manufacturing, design and development of defence products and information sharing.
8. We reaffirmed our collective commitment to explore in detail various aspects of defence systems including but not limited to, armoured vehicles, air defence systems support such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) communication systems, maintenance system, maritime surveillance systems, naval systems, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), border surveillance, cyber security and other defence products and services
9. Defence Intelligence: We agreed and resolved to exchange and consider a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on intelligence sharing and cooperation for consideration and approval by Higher Authority.
10. Jungle Warfare School: The JDC resolved that there should be further engagement by the South African team and such engagement will be inclusive of the South African Navy requirement for Jungle Warfare training.
11. Medical: The Joint Defence Committee recognised the need for further engagement on military health and agreed that the Surgeon General of the SAMHS be invited for a meeting with his counterpart before the end of November 2024 in Ghana.
12. National College of Defence Studies:The Joint Defence Committee agreed that Ghana should consider undertaking a benchmarking visit to the South African Military Academy. It was further agreed that the two parties will exchange a draft Implementation Agreement on Training as provided for in Article 24 of the signed Defence Cooperation Agreement to cater for exchange of students. The draft should be finalised by the 30th November 2024. It was proposed that a team responsible for the finalisation of the Implementation Agreement also be included in the envisaged visit to Ghana by the Surgeon General.
13. Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre: The Joint Defence Committee agreed that the KAIPTC will avail its course brochure to the SANDF on a continuous basis. It was agreed that the South African delegation will visit KAIPTC on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
14. Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College: The Joint Defence Committee recommended that dedicated vehicles be allocated to the Directing Staff in both countries. Efforts be made to ensure timely payment of allowances. It was resolved that accommodation commensurate with their status must be provided. As much as possible the redress of challenges must consider institutional channels of command followed by the Defence Advisers before recourse to national governments.
15. Ghana Air Force: The South African delegation resolved that the Ghana Air Force should deal directly, in future, with the Defence Foreign Relations regarding visas. The Joint Defence Committee agreed that the Chief of Air Force of SA extend an invitation to Chief of Air Staff Ghana for the upcoming Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (AAD) to be hosted in South Africa in September 2024, during which time discussions can be held on the requirements of the Ghana Air Force.
16. Ghana Navy: The JDC agreed that the two Navies should come up with an implementation plan for the operationalization of the areas of cooperation. South African Navy should also invite Ghana Navy personnel for the SA Navy Festival in October 2024.
17. Ghana Army: The JDC agreed that further engagement should take place including the upcoming visit by the Chief of the South African Army for the IDEC 2024.”
Signed for Ministry of Defence, Ghana by Dr Evans A. Dzikum – Chief Director; and for Department of Defence, South Africa by Dr Thobelike Gamede – Acting Defence Secretary.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
