Airmen from U.S. Air Forces Africa participated in the opening ceremony of the inaugural African Partnership Flight event March 12, 2012 at Air Force Base Accra, Ghana.



The event, hosted by the Ghanaian Air Force, is a two-week, military-to-military multilateral and regional engagement designed to improve regional cooperation partnerships, and the readiness of all countries' service members.



More than 160 airmen from the Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Senegal air forces were welcomed to the event by Air Commodore Emanuel Ahadome, Ghana air officer, logistics.



"The importance of training to our military profession cannot be over emphasized," Ahadome said. "The need to be educated and have good knowledge of best practices in ways of carrying out our tasks is very crucial to the success of any modern air force."



He continued by saying the program would enable participants to exchange ideas and upgrade knowledge of best practices in modern air forces and the aviation industry.



Several airmen from U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and North Dakota National Guard will support APF.



"At the end, if we do nothing more than strengthen relationships, old and new, that's value added," said Colonel Dave Poage, APF mission commander. "Just getting to know each other and creating partnerships among a myriad of organizations will make it successful."