The U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan, has presented a new aviation security screening equipment for use at the Kotoka International Airport.

Speaking at an event to present the equipment, the U.S ambassador reveals that the gesture, which falls within the Antiterrorism Assistance Programne of the US, is to aid anti-terrorism and arms trafficking surveillance in Ghana.

“The airport security training and equipment programme underscores the robust security cooperation between the United States and Ghana,” she stated.

Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah said the government is investing heavily in screening and security surveillance to ensure the Kotoka International Airport remains the safest in the Sub-region.

"The equipment will also assist to erase all aviation link vulnerabilities and ease the pressure by ensuring that security personnel can safely and efficiently detect whether passengers and staff are transporting unwanted objects into the boarding gate area. It will also replace physical hand searches as well,” he stated.

The U.S. and Ghanaian officials commissioned one body scanner and nine explosives and narcotics trace detectors at the passenger checkpoint for outbound flights inside the KIA Terminal III.

The Antiterrorism Assistance Programme is the US GOVERNMENT’s premier counterterrorism training and equipment for foreign law enforcement agencies.

Established in 1983, the U.S. Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Programme is the U.S. Government’s premier counterterrorism training and equipment provider for foreign law enforcement agencies. 

The programme receives funding and policy guidance from the Bureau of Counterrorism and is administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Training Directorate.