By James Amoh Junior
Accra, July 16, GNA– Military chaplains from 10 West African countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional peace, resilience and ethical leadership through enhanced cooperation.
The commitment was made at the maiden West Africa Religious Affairs Symposium (WARAS) in Accra.
The three-day symposium, jointly hosted by the Ghana Armed Forces and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), brought together military chaplains, religious affairs specialists and faith leaders from across the sub-region to exchange best practices on providing spiritual support to armed forces operating in increasingly complex security environments.
Military chaplaincy plays a critical role in many armed forces by providing spiritual guidance, counselling, and ethical advice to military personnel regardless of their religious backgrounds.
WARAS is the first regional platform dedicated to strengthening cooperation among military religious leaders in West Africa.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by AFRICOM and African partner nations to enhance professional military education, improve force readiness and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism and humanitarian crises.
Ghana, widely recognised for its tradition of religious tolerance and professional military institutions, hosted the inaugural symposium from July 14 to 16, 2026, in collaboration with U.S. Africa Command and the Ghana Armed Forces.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing organised by the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub, Chaplain Colonel Kevin Forrester, Command Chaplain at U.S. Africa Command, said the symposium was aimed at building stronger institutional partnerships while promoting religion as a unifying force for peace and stability.
He described the gathering as timely, noting that West African security forces continued to face multiple threats, including violent extremism, political instability and other complex operational challenges that placed significant stress on military personnel.
“The 10 West African nations gathered here this week are completely united in their commitment to provide for and protect the spiritual well-being of their forces in a way that honours the faith traditions and values of their service members,” he said.
Chaplain Forrester said religion remained a powerful force across Africa, making military chaplaincy an important component of operational effectiveness.
He explained that chaplains were uniquely positioned to strengthen ethical leadership, foster trust within military institutions and promote resilience among personnel.
“Regional stability and prosperity require institutional strength, ethical practice and the moral foundation that religious traditions provide,” he said.
According to him, the symposium was not intended to export the American model of military chaplaincy but to encourage collaboration while respecting the diverse religious traditions represented by participating countries.
He described the symposium as “pluralism in action,” where Christian and Muslim military clergy worked together to support service members regardless of religious affiliation.
Chaplain Forrester also stressed that military chaplains were not policymakers, but advisers who supported commanders on matters relating to ethics, religion and the spiritual welfare of troops.
Chaplain Forrester said one of the greatest achievements of the inaugural symposium was bringing together military chaplains from countries with different languages, traditions and levels of institutional development.
He said many participating chaplaincies were relatively young and would benefit from continued exchanges with more established counterparts across the region.
Sergeant Major Herinah Asaah, Religious Affairs Senior Enlisted Leader at U.S. Africa Command, said the symposium highlighted the growing importance of adapting military chaplaincy to meet the evolving needs of younger service members.
She noted that the increasing influence of social media, prolonged deployments and changing security realities required chaplains to become more visible both physically and digitally.
“The best ministry happens when you show up,” she said, explaining that many participating countries were exploring technology and secure digital platforms to provide confidential counselling and religious support to troops serving in remote locations.
Sergeant Major Asaah, who was born in Cameroon, said understanding the cultural and spiritual realities of African societies was critical to building resilient military forces.
“In West Africa, religion and spirituality are interwoven into the very fabric of daily life, culture and identity. You cannot build resilience in a military force without understanding that cultural reality,” she said.
Responding to questions on operational readiness, the AFRICOM officials said military chaplaincy contributed significantly to troop morale by ensuring service members received emotional, psychological and spiritual care before, during and after deployments.
They explained that chaplains also advised commanders on religious sensitivities during military operations to prevent actions that could undermine local cultures or inflame tensions.
The officials noted that beyond networking, WARAS was expected to produce stronger cooperation among military religious leaders, improved interoperability, and more effective support systems for service members.
They also highlighted the importance of creating lasting professional relationships among chaplains who often served in difficult operational environments with limited institutional support.
One of the symbolic activities during the symposium was a peace walk involving visits to Christian and Muslim places of worship within the Ghana Armed Forces, reflecting the country’s longstanding commitment to religious tolerance and coexistence.
The organisers said the initiative demonstrated how different faith traditions could coexist while serving a common national purpose.
The symposium is expected to become an annual regional platform, following a similar engagement held in Southern Africa last year, with plans already underway to convene the next edition in East Africa.
GNA
Report by: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]
Edited by: Samuel Osei-Frempong