Ghana and the Czech Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in defence and security, with particular emphasis on capacity building, defence equipment, technology development and joint ventures.
The commitment was expressed when the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ghana, His Excellency Pavel Bilek and the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Nick Ojo Omorodion, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Defence, Hon Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, at the Ministry of Defence.
Welcoming the Ambassador, Mr. Adjei expressed appreciation for the congratulatory message extended to him following his appointment and described the relations between Ghana and the Czech Republic as cordial and anchored in shared values.
He commended the Czech Republic for its continued support to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), particularly in the training of pilots, scholarships and capacity building, as well as the supply and maintenance of modern defence equipment.
The Minister expressed Ghana’s readiness to explore further collaboration in defence equipment development and joint ventures with the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited (DIHOC), which he said will contribute to local capacity development, technology transfer and economic growth.
The Defence Minister further highlighted the success of the Ghana-Czech health partnership, particularly the Medivac initiative launched in 2019, which he described as a “beacon of hope” for many Ghanaian families.
He noted that the collaboration between the Czech medical team and GAF had provided high-quality medical care across the country, resulting in 261 surgeries while also strengthening the capabilities of Ghanaian medical personnel.
He expressed gratitude to the Czech Republic for its contribution to improving healthcare in Ghana and welcomed broader cooperation in trade and education, stressing that deeper collaboration in these areas would further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
HE Bilek described Ghana and the Czech Republic as strategic partners in defence and security and commended Ghana for maintaining peace and democratic stability since independence, despite the security challenges confronting the wider Sahel region.
He noted that the Czech Republic was also contributing to international efforts to address insecurity in the region, including through the deployment of its troops and equipment.
The Ambassador further stated that his country remains ready to strengthen cooperation with Ghana through joint ventures, defence equipment and capacity building, including the provision of equipment and expertise to support Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining (galamsey).
He was hopeful that pending cooperation agreements would be concluded to unlock new opportunities and further advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.
