Ghana has strengthened its defence partnership with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) after advancing to the advisory phase of the A3I capacity-building programme, a move expected to enhance military logistics, operational readiness and defence capability development.
The development follows Ghana’s successful completion of the programme’s assessment phase, paving the way for expanded military-to-military cooperation with the United States in key areas such as logistics planning, air mobility and interoperability.
The announcement was made by Brigadier General Paul G. Filcek, Director of Logistics at U.S. Africa Command, during a digital press briefing on the sidelines of the 2026 Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium (ALCS26) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Responding to a question from the Ghana News Agency, Brig. Gen. Filcek described Ghana as “a robust partner to USAFRICOM” and said the country’s transition into the advisory phase would deepen ongoing cooperation between the two militaries.
“USAFRICOM has continual military-to-military engagements that yield significant value continuously,” he said.
He noted that effective logistics and communications systems are increasingly central to modern military operations and determine the ability of armed forces to respond rapidly to security threats.
According to Brig. Gen. Filcek, challenges such as human trafficking, illegal narcotics trafficking and transnational crime require armed forces to move personnel, equipment and supplies efficiently while maintaining reliable communications across large geographical areas.
The Assess, Advise, Advocate and Integrate (A3I) programme is designed to evaluate partner countries’ logistics capabilities, provide technical advisory support and strengthen cooperation and interoperability among security forces.
Brig. Gen. Filcek said investments in logistics systems, communications infrastructure and regional cooperation would improve military readiness while also supporting broader economic development.
“When our partners succeed, we succeed,” he said.
Ghana’s advancement in the programme was announced during ALCS26, which brought together representatives from more than 40 African countries and 27 private-sector companies to discuss defence logistics, communications systems and emerging technologies.
The symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving logistics management, predictive maintenance and supply chain operations.
Brig. Gen. Filcek disclosed that AFRICOM is already using generative AI under the A3I programme to support logistics analysis and produce country-specific logistics reports for partner nations.
He identified AI-assisted logistics, predictive maintenance, modular expeditionary capabilities, secure trade corridors and investments in local supply chains as key areas likely to shape Africa’s defence capabilities over the next decade.
Ghana’s entry into the advisory phase is expected to support efforts to strengthen defence logistics, improve operational capability and enhance cooperation with both regional and international security partners.
