According to DefenceWeb, there is an agreement in place between the Israeli Discount Bank and the Government of Ghana, with the deal insured by the Israeli Foreign Trade Risks Insurance Corporation. A $74 million credit facility will be combined with a $12 million commercial loan. Although the loan has been approved, the deal is currently officially in the negotiation stage and requires parliamentary approval. Ghana’s parliament approved $86.1 million in government loans to fund acquisition of 19 armored vehicles from Israel’s Elbit Land Systems. The purpose of purchasing these vehicles is to help the Ghana Army (GA) deal with potential terrorism, human smuggling and other security threats along the northern border with Burkina Faso.
There is no information about the type of vehicles to be acquired, but Elbit Systems offers various models sourced from original equipment manufacturers, such as the Sentinel 8×8. The company will supply nine 8×8 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) equipped with Elbit Systems UT30 30 mm remotely operated turrets. The order includes ten 6×6 IFVs fitted for reconnaissance operations. Team Sentinel, leaded by Elbit Systems of Australia, is offering the Sentinel II for the Australian Land 400 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability (MCRC) request for tender. This is described as an integrated combination of the latest-generation Singapore Technologies Kinetics Terrex 2 8×8 armoured fighting vehicle, a networked combat system that is the next generation of the army’s current battle management system, and Elbit Land System’s MT30 30mm turret.
The acquisition will help Ghana’s military realize long-delayed establishment of two new armored regiments to be based in Sunyani and Tamale. Ghana’s armed forces are currently equipped with three EE-9 Cascavels, 24 Ratel-90s with 90mm cannon, 15 Ratel-20s with 20mm cannon, four Piranhas with 25mm cannon, five Type-05Ps with 25mm cannon, and 46 first-version Piranha 8×8 armored vehicles. Ghana has contributed forces to numerous UN and ECOWAS operations, including in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, and Liberia (ECOMOG and UNMIL). Ghana contributed UN peacekeeping in UNAMIR during the Rwandan genocide. In August, the Ghanaian Army elevated 2 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron of the 153 Armoured Regiment to create the 154 Armoured Regiment. Planning is underway for the establishment of the GAF 155 Armoured Regiment.
