U.S. and Ghana Partner to Build Capable and Resilient Security and Justice Sector Institutions

ACCRA – The United States and Ghana continue bilateral efforts in the areas of border, maritime, police peacekeeping, cyber security, and the administration of justice to build capable and resilient security and justice sector institutions. Three high-level officials – U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison, the U.S. Government’s Security Governance Initiative (SGI) Ghana Head of Delegation Ambassador Michael Arietti, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Assistant Commissioner Erik Moncayo – visited Accra from January 19-23, 2020. During their visit, the three officials joined U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan in multiple bilateral engagements in the security sphere.

On Wednesday, January 22, the U.S. officials joined Ghanaian Minister of Defense Dominic Nitiwul and National Security Coordinator Joshua Kyeremeh to inaugurate the National Border Fusion Center and attend the 6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting.

The National Border Fusion Center will serve as an information-sharing hub for border security to facilitate informed, rapid decision-making. This is one of many collaborations under SGI. In her remarks, Assistant Secretary Madison underlined the value of this bilateral effort: “With shared common values, our partnership and cooperation are underpinned by our joint commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.” Assistant Secretary Madison also reaffirmed the U.S. government’s support by announcing an additional $3 million in U.S. foreign assistance funding to continue efforts to improve the capacity of law enforcement, promote the rule of law and the administration of justice, and combat transnational financial crime.

The 6th SGI Steering Committee Meeting took place at the West Africa Regional Training Center in Accra. The senior Ghanaian and U.S. officials emphasized both countries’ commitment to improving security sector governance in Ghana. In his remarks, Ambassador Arietti noted that “Ghana’s long-standing partnership with the United States, coupled with a shared belief in the value of strong security institutions, has enabled a smooth and productive partnership under SGI,” and encouraged the SGI Steering Committee to continue to focus on implementation.

SGI is a partnership between the Government of Ghana and the United States aimed at improving the effectiveness of Ghana’s security sector and enabling the conditions for national prosperity. Under SGI, the United States has provided more than $35 million to strengthen border, maritime, and cyber security, as well as to improve the administration of justice. These efforts have included technical assistance, study visits to the United States and Kenya, trainings and workshops at the strategic and operational levels, and material support.

On Tuesday, January 21, Assistant Secretary Madison and Ambassador Arietti paid visits to the Minister of National Security Albert Kan-Dapaah to discuss bilateral efforts to advance mutual priorities in the law enforcement and security sectors.

On Thursday, January 23, Assistant Secretary Madison met Inspector-General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh and Ghana Police Service (GPS) International Relations Directorate (IRD) Director Baba Saanid Adamu. In these meetings, Assistant Secretary Madison discussed continued U.S. assistance through the International Police Peacekeeping Operation Support program which to date has trained over 1,400 personnel from eight deployed Formed Police Units to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, as well as mechanics and police trainers.

The visit underscored the U.S. Government’s commitment to partnering with Ghana to strengthen security and justice sector institutions to the benefit and prosperity of the Ghanaian people.

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Kirsten D. Madison was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on May 11, 2018. As Assistant Secretary, she is responsible for State Department programs combating illicit drugs and organized crime, as well as support for law enforcement and rule of law.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Madison served in senior leadership positions at the White House, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Ms. Madison’s prior executive branch service includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs on the National Security Council, and Director of International Affairs and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commandant of Coast Guard.

She also served in the legislative branch, including having served as a Senior Professional Staff Member and Deputy Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as Legislative Director and international affairs advisor for Representative Porter Goss.

Outside of her time in government, Ms. Madison served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States. She most recently worked at the American Enterprise Institute as Deputy Director for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies.

Ms. Madison holds an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Goucher College.

Head of Delegation, Security Governance Initiative – Ghana

Ambassador Arietti served as the United States of America Ambassador to Rwanda from 2005 to 2008. During that time, he led the U.S. effort to assist Rwanda to strengthen its democracy and its economic and social development, including by improving governance and attracting foreign investment. He also worked to reduce regional tensions and improve Rwanda’s security cooperation with the United States.

Since retiring in 2008, Ambassador Arietti returned to service as Charge d’Affaires in Liberia in 2012 and in The Gambia in 2014.

During his 35-year career in the Department of State, Ambassador Arietti held many positions. He was Director of the Office of West African Affairs and was directly involved in efforts to end Liberia’s civil conflict, including participating in the Accra peace conference. He also worked to strengthen American cooperation with ECOWAS on regional issues.

Ambassador Arietti served as Deputy Permanent Representative at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in Geneva and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Lusaka, Zambia. He also served at U.S. Embassies in Sweden, Australia and Iran. Within the Department of State, he served as Director of the Office of U.N. Peacekeeping Operations, and as Director of the Human Rights Office. He also held other positions responsible for arms control negotiations and Middle Eastern issues, as well as environmental issues, including the protection and sustainable use of African timber resources.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Assistant Commissioner

E. Erik Moncayo is currently the Acting Assistant Commissioner for CBP’s Office of International Affairs (INA) which is responsible for coordinating and supporting foreign initiatives, programs and activities within CBP. INA strives to extend U.S. borders by implementing programs and initiatives that promote anti-terrorism, global border security, non-proliferation, export controls, immigration and capacity building. INA focuses on international cooperation and strengthening multi- and bi-lateral relationships to achieve international agreements and joint efforts that both facilitate and secure legitimate trade.

Mr. Moncayo was most recently the Chief of Staff for the DHS Joint Task Force – West, which is responsible for coordinating DHS' border security operations along the Southwest Border. He has more than 22 years of Federal Government service in the areas of operations, intelligence, liaison, training, and management. He began his federal career with the US Border Patrol in February 1996 at Douglas, Arizona.

Mr. Moncayo has held a variety of positions. Domestically, he has served as a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent in Douglas, Arizona, and Charleston, South Carolina; and as Assistant Chief in the Intelligence Division of US Border Patrol Headquarters. He has also served as Patrol Agent in Charge of the El Centro, California, Border Patrol Station and Division Chief of Operations for the El Centro Border Patrol Sector. He has also represented CBP on international assignments as an Assistant CBP Attaché in Mexico and as the CBP Attaché in Panama.

Throughout his career, Mr. Moncayo has leveraged his operational experience to identify and implement various initiatives in the areas of interagency coordination and collaboration, strategic planning, international engagement, risk quantification and prioritization, and mission integration. Many of these initiatives have gone on to become CBP and DHS best practices.

Mr. Moncayo graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the CBP Leadership Institute (2010) and the DHS SES Candidate Development Program (2016).

U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison speaking at the National Border Fusion Center commissioning on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.

U.S. Government's Security Governance Initiative (SGI) Ghana Head of Delegation Ambassador Michael Arietti (far left) addressing the press with U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan (middle) and SGI Ghana National Coordinator Osei Bonsu Dickson (far right) in advance of the 6th Security Governance Initiative Steering Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.

U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison meeting with Inspector-General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison (middle in black suit) and the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan pictured with Inspector-General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh (left of Assistant Secretary Madison) and Ghana Police Service (GPS) International Relations Directorate Director ACP Baba Saanid Adamu (far right) and members of the GPS on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law (INL) Enforcement Affairs Kirsten Madison (middle in black suit) and the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan pictured with (Left to Right) GPS International Relations Directorate Director ACP Baba Saanid Adamu, Police Peacekeeping Deployment and Logistics Subject Matter Expert in Accra Clarence Duncan, Deputy Superintendent (Administration & Pre-Deployment Training FPU) WhoKnows Kwaku Attipoe, and INL Director Jeff Kee. The group is standing in front of a U.S. donated Armored Personnel Carrier truck that was handed over on April 18, 2018 as a part of the U.S. Government's efforts to enhance capacity of the Ghanaian Police to deploy operational and effective peacekeepers.