Ukraine to Supply Ghana with Advanced Drones to Bolster Border Security
Accra, Ghana - 12 July, 2025 - Ukraine has pledged to support Ghana with advanced drone technology to strengthen border security, while also exploring deeper ties in agriculture and logistics, as announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a phone call with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on 11 July 2025.
The discussions, which signal a growing partnership between Kyiv and Accra, come as Ghana grapples with regional security threats and seeks to modernise its agro-industrial sector.
The call between the two leaders focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation, with Zelenskyy highlighting Ghana’s interest in Ukraine’s combat-tested drone technology. Ukraine, which has developed a robust drone industry since Russia’s invasion in 2022, is well-positioned to assist. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ranging from small reconnaissance drones to long-range systems, have been critical in monitoring and defending its own borders.
Zelenskyy, in a post on X, noted Ghana’s readiness to finance Ukrainian drone production, while Ukraine, in turn, would help secure Ghana’s borders.
"Ghana is also interested in our technologies, the production of various types of drones, and the experience Ukraine has gained during this war," Zelenskyy revealed.
"Ghana is ready to finance our production, and we are ready to help our partners secure their borders," he added.
This mutual commitment reflects Ghana’s growing defence budget, expected to rise by 11% from 2025 to 2029, driven by the need to counter regional instability and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, as reported by defence analysts.
The potential transfer of drone technology could enhance Ghana’s ability to monitor remote areas in real time, addressing challenges like trafficking and unregulated migration.Beyond security, the leaders discussed collaboration in agriculture, a priority for both nations.
Ghana, under Mahama’s “Feed Ghana Programme” launched in May 2025, aims to reduce its $2bn annual food import bill and address post-harvest losses, which account for up to 30% of its agricultural output, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Ukraine, a global leader in grain exports before the war, offered expertise to support the creation of a food logistics hub in Ghana.
Such a hub could streamline storage and distribution, boosting food security and creating jobs in a country where agriculture employs over 40% of the workforce, per World Bank data.The talks build on a strengthening relationship between Ukraine and Ghana. Since Russia’s invasion, Ghana has consistently condemned the aggression, aligning with international efforts for peace, as noted by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
The opening of Ukraine’s embassy in Accra in December 2023 marked a strategic push to expand ties in Africa. Earlier, in June 2025, both nations agreed to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity and digitalisation during a virtual meeting, with plans for a joint IT forum to foster innovation, according to Ghana’s Ministry of Communication.
To advance these initiatives, a Ukrainian delegation is set to visit Ghana soon for ministerial-level talks, with expectations of concrete agreements in security, agriculture, and technology. Zelenskyy also invited Mahama to visit Ukraine, a gesture underscoring Kyiv’s intent to cement ties with African nations amid its ongoing conflict.
While Ghanaian officials have not yet publicly confirmed the drone financing deal, the discussions signal a forward-looking partnership aimed at addressing shared challenges in security and development.
Sourcè: Lead News Online
