Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), visited Accra April 21-22, meeting with U.S. embassy leadership and senior Ghanaian government officials to reinforce shared maritime security priorities in the Gulf of Guinea and to advance cooperation between the United States and the Ghana Navy.
During the visit, Wikoff met with Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Defense, Ernest Genfi, and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Godwin Livinus Bessing. Discussions focused on Ghana’s maritime modernisation priorities; strengthening maritime domain awareness; expanding interoperability through exercises and information sharing; and supporting Ghana’s role as a regional leader in training and enabling Gulf of Guinea maritime forces.
“Ghana is one of our most capable and reliable maritime partners in West Africa,” Wikoff said. “Our two nations share a direct interest in secure sea lanes, a rules-based maritime environment, and the professional maritime forces needed to keep commerce moving safely. By working together, the United States and Ghana can help ensure the sea lanes remain open and free for legitimate commerce.”
Wikoff recognised Ghana’s leadership in regional maritime security efforts, including participation in exercise Obangame Express, and Ghana’s continued commitment to improving maritime domain awareness through tools and training such as SeaVision. Ghana has participated annually in Obangame Express and hosted the exercise in 2021.
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Rolf Olson of the U.S. Embassy in Ghana noted the strong U.S.-Ghana security partnership that has enhanced Ghanaian maritime capabilities.
This includes the U.S. donation of two 38-foot Defender boats in 2023, with two additional boats in 2024, to improve maritime security, and the co-hosting of the African Maritime Forces Summit in 2024 to strengthen force leadership and strategic planning.
“The U.S. Embassy is focused on strengthening our security cooperation and advancing U.S. commercial ties with Ghana,” Olson said. “Given the superior performance of U.S. technology, we encourage the Ghana Armed Forces to consider U.S. solutions as part of their planning and procurement process.”
The visit included discussions about the inaugural combined regional Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) operation that took place March 16–25, 2026, in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
CARAT focused on countering illicit trafficking and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing to reinforce maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. “Maritime security is economic security,” Wikoff said. “When waters are stable, and commerce flows freely, markets function and coastal communities benefit.”
As Ghana and the U.S. celebrate 69 years of diplomatic ties this year, Wikoff and Olson noted the enduring and deepening partnership between the two countries across several areas.
For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Africa has forged strategic relationships to preserve security. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in both the U.S. Africa Command and U.S. European Command areas of responsibility.
