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U.S., Ghana partner to build disaster management capabilities across the region

On November 9, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan officially presented a skills-based Disaster Management Curriculum to Major General Francis Ofori, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC). U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan, Hon. Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, Director-General of NADMO (3rd from right) Dr. Evans Dzikum, Chief Director, Ministry of Defense (3rd from left) with staff of the U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation and staff of the KAIPTC.

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Photo by: U.S. Embassy Ghana 

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U.S., Ghana partner to build disaster management capabilities across the region

On November 9, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan officially presented a skills-based Disaster Management Curriculum to Major General Francis Ofori, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC). The curriculum was produced by United States Africa Command in partnership with KAIPTC.

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Photo by: U.S. Embassy Ghana 

On Nov. 9, 2020, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie Sullivan officially presented a skills-based Disaster Management Curriculum to Maj. Gen. Francis Ofori, commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center. Also present were the Deputy Commandant, Air Commodore George Kweku Arko Dadzie, and some members of KAIPTC’s executive management committee.

During her remarks, Sullivan noted that the “collaboration among the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Africa Command, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, and the Governments of Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal is a testament to the extensive network of productive U.S. partnerships throughout West Africa.”

The curriculum was produced by U.S. Africa Command in partnership with KAIPTC and consists of twelve disaster management courses (six in English and six in French) that build and support national capacity and professionalization of disaster managers across civilian, military, private and nonprofit sectors to deepen their knowledge and skills in emergency/disaster responses, actions, and strategies. It also includes a train-the-trainer course in English and French to support KAIPTC in the delivery of the curriculum. The curriculum will be fully owned, managed, and delivered by KAIPTC to directly enhance West African partner nation capabilities.

The curriculum has already generated positive outcomes across the region as a result of the pilot courses delivered to 250 select representatives from Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo during the development of the curriculum. Notable outcomes include the enhanced ability to develop training exercises, the creation of disaster management communication plans, and the development of crisis response plans using skills learned during the courses.

“The addition of the DMP to our training portfolio is a great milestone because it furthers our vision to be the preferred international Center that provides relevant training to make Africa peaceful and secure," Ofori said. "We are very grateful to AFRICOM for their investment and technical guidance/advice to develop and sustain the program.”

U.S. Africa Command provided over $3 million funding to develop the curriculum, including reviews by West African disaster management professionals, a pilot of each course in English, and in French and technical assistance to ensure the program’s sustainability.