U.S. Partners Ghana to Strengthen Counterterrorism Efforts
Ghana’s fight against terrorism has received a major boost after 35 officers of the National Intelligence Bureau’s Counterterrorism Directorate (NIB-CTD) completed an intensive six-week capacity-building program led by the U.S. Embassy’s FBI Legal Attaché Office and the U.S. Department of State’s Counterterrorism Bureau.
The training, the first of its kind for the Directorate, focused on practical counterterrorism investigations, intelligence operations, terrorist financing, legal frameworks for prosecution, and human rights compliance. Participants were drawn from across Ghana for their involvement in active or upcoming counterterrorism cases and interagency operations.
Delivered by experts from the FBI Academy in Quantico, prosecutors from Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Ghana’s Attorney General’s Department, the program equipped officers with the operational and legal tools needed to tackle increasingly complex threats.
Charles A. Kipo, Director General of the NIB, described the initiative as “a significant step forward in building a safer Ghana.” He noted that the training and equipment, including laptops and printers donated by the U.S. Embassy, would enhance investigative efficiency through a new centralized reporting and case management system.
Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s security architecture, stressing that counterterrorism efforts must go hand in hand with respect for the rule of law.
The program underscores growing U.S.-Ghana cooperation in regional security and responds to rising threats across West Africa, where extremist activities increasingly threaten peace and economic stability. For ordinary Ghanaians, the strengthened capabilities of the NIB promise faster, more coordinated, and more effective responses to potential terrorist threats, bolstering public safety and confidence.
