SETAF-AF civil affairs team improves burden-sharing in counternarcotics tabletop exercise with Ghanaian partners

ACCRA, Ghana - Representatives assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the U.S. State Department met with senior Ghanaian military and government leaders to conduct a counternarcotics tabletop exercise (TTX) Sept. 2, 2025.

Members of the U.S. State Department and Bravo Company, Civil Affairs (CA) Team Ghana, Civil Affairs Battalion, SETAF-AF, established the groundwork for this event months earlier when they met with Ghanaian navy leaders June 17 at Burma Camp in Accra.

The SETAF-AF civil affairs mission enables greater burden-sharing by enhancing capabilities and capacities to counter the spread of violent extremism.

Led by Chris Hoelscher, director of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the June engagement in Ghana conducted by SETAF-AF marked an important first step in shaping future civil affairs initiatives, particularly in counternarcotics operations. This initial interaction focused on synchronizing interagency roles for September's TTX aimed at enhancing Ghana's coastal defense and maritime security coordination.

"This is the first exercise of the partnership spearheaded by CA Team Ghana to facilitate a future, self-sufficient communicative partnership," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Simone, CA Team Ghana's team sergeant. "There was no previous existing relationship between the American and Ghanaian forces in counternarcotics efforts prior to our team's efforts in connecting partners. This TTX is a keystone element in that relationship building."

The meeting also served to deepen cooperation between SETAF-AF's civil affairs team and Ghana's navy, as well as strengthen regional stability initiatives through joint planning and mission alignment.

Simone emphasized that while CA Team Ghana would participate in the exercise, the INL would be taking the lead. The team's main objective was to assist INL in bringing partner force counterparts and entities of interest to the table.

While participants have not yet discussed further engagements, Simone noted that there are many opportunities for future exercises and collaborative efforts between the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) and the U.S. military due to the relationship established by his team.

The team will also continue civil engagements with GAF and coordinate future training between the INL and SETAF-AF's civil affairs battalion.

"The tabletop exercise involving INL, SETAF-AF civil affairs, Bridgetown and GAF improves burden-sharing through enhanced information-sharing among sectors to allow additional agencies to coordinate information collection channels, facilitating burden-sharing throughout all areas of operations," Simone said. "This exercise provides a framework forged through trial and error that allows for an easy replication and application throughout other operating areas. It also connects partners that focus on similar lines of effort working towards similar goals."

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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