The United States and Ghana Armed Forces have concluded a three-week joint medical readiness exercise in Accra aimed at strengthening military healthcare delivery, improving operational preparedness and deepening defence cooperation between the two countries.
According to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Ghana, the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX), held from April 20 to May 8 at the 37 Military Hospital, formed part of the wider African Lion 26 military exercise, regarded as the largest annual joint training operation organised by the U.S. Africa Command.
The exercise brought together about 25 U.S. service personnel and medical professionals from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), who collaborated across several medical disciplines, including trauma surgery, emergency care, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, intensive care and dental services.
Military health experts from the United States worked alongside Ghanaian counterparts to provide clinical care while exchanging technical expertise and operational experience in resource-constrained environments.
The U.S. contingent included personnel from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Dental Health Activity–Rheinland Pfalz and the North Dakota National Guard, while the exercise itself was coordinated by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).
Speaking on the significance of the programme, the Command Surgeon for SETAF-AF, Colonel Scot Tebo, said the exercise offered military medical professionals an opportunity to sharpen their skills in operational conditions while strengthening collaboration with partner nations.
According to him, the exercise also prepares military health teams to respond effectively during large-scale operations and emergencies where conventional clinical infrastructure may not be readily available.
The Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Rolf Olson, described the exercise as a reflection of the enduring partnership between Ghana and the United States, particularly in the area of defence and regional security cooperation.
He noted that the collaboration between the two countries was not only improving medical readiness but also reinforcing long-standing diplomatic and military ties.
African Lion exercises have become an important platform for interoperability and strategic cooperation among allied countries across Africa. Since 2014, Ghana and the United States have consistently organised MEDREX activities under the programme, with the exception of a one-year interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s African Lion exercise also includes the participation of 50 Ghana Armed Forces personnel currently in Morocco for additional multinational military drills.
Earlier this year, Ghanaian military medical personnel also joined colleagues from Italy, Liberia and the United States in the SETAF-AF Best Medic Competition held in Vicenza, Italy, where participants were tested on combat medical response, endurance and technical skills under simulated battlefield conditions.
Military officials believe such engagements are helping to build stronger regional partnerships while enhancing preparedness for future humanitarian, medical and security challenges across the continent.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
