Deputy Minister for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi has described the donation of three Freightliner trucks by the United States government as a significant boost to the operational capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Speaking at a handing-over ceremony at the Engineering Training Centre of the Ghana Armed Forces in Teshie, Accra, on Thursday, Mr Brogya Genfi said the vehicles arrived at a crucial time as the military continues to undertake a wide range of national and international responsibilities.

The three trucks were donated under the African Crisis Response Initiative to support the Ghana Armed Forces in engineering, construction and humanitarian operations.

According to the Deputy Minister, the vehicles will enhance the military's ability to respond to disasters and emergencies, particularly in the delivery of humanitarian relief and logistical support.

He noted that beyond its traditional defence role, the Ghana Armed Forces continues to contribute significantly to national development and regional stability through peacekeeping operations and other strategic interventions.

Mr Brogya Genfi said government is currently deploying military personnel to support efforts to rehabilitate polluted river bodies and reclaim degraded forest reserves destroyed by illegal mining activities in collaboration with the Gold Board.

He added that the engineering capabilities of the Armed Forces have also been instrumental in creating the right of way for the planned Accra-Kumasi Expressway project.

The Deputy Minister further expressed appreciation to the United States government for its continued support to the Ghana Armed Forces, including the provision of an aircraft that transported Ghanaian military engineers to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa to assist with reconstruction efforts.

According to him, such cooperation demonstrates the versatility of the Ghana Armed Forces and the strong partnership between Ghana and the United States.

He described the donation as another example of the enduring bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has expanded over the years through training programmes, logistics support, capacity building initiatives and security cooperation.

Mr Brogya Genfi also commended the United States Embassy in Accra, the Office of Security Cooperation and the United States Military Group for their continued support to the Ghana Armed Forces.

He urged officers and soldiers who will operate the vehicles to ensure their proper maintenance and effective use to maximise the benefits of the donation.

The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the United States and expressed optimism that cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow in the years ahead.