Long way home: US Army combat medic returns home to Ghana

Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

ACCRA, Ghana - "I jumped in and volunteered for this mission. I didn't ask questions and I was so happy when I knew that I was going to go," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Albert Nimako, a combat medic with the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC).

Nimako returns home to Ghana while participating in a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX), as part of exercise African Lion 2024.

"Growing up in Ghana, I never imagined I would one day return as a combat medic with the U.S. Army," he said. "Moving to the U.S. was a significant change in my life, but it opened up opportunities for me to serve in ways I never thought possible. Being back in my home country for the first time in an Army capacity is both surreal and deeply fulfilling."

Nimako was born in Kumasi, a town in the Ashanti region of northern Ghana and went to highschool there.

He was selected for U.S. citizenship through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program and afterwards moved to the U.S. He joined the Army in 2009 and has since been stationed in Germany, Texas and Kentucky before returning to the LRMC.

"I am not surprised Albert is part of this exercise," said childhood friend Abigail, who came to visit him while in Accra. "He is caring and doesn't wish to see people suffer. He just wants to help people in need without requesting anything in return."

The childhood friends had not seen each other in 23 years.

"My time here brings me hope and encouragement," explained Nimako, "Not only for my people but also for my fellow American service members serving in Ghana and Africa, as well as those back in the U.S."

Nimako hopes others from the U.S. will get the chance to serve in Africa as well.

"This experience has shown me the profound impact we can have when we work together, and it strengthens my resolve to continue serving both my homeland and my adopted country," he said.

The MEDREX is not simply about U.S. medical teams assisting African host nations. The experience also enhances the overall medical readiness of every partner who participates.

"The exercise helps my unit to better prepare to work in austere environments and also work with limited resources," Nimako said. "It brings to our awareness that we will not always have the luxury of working with all the equipment and supplies at our disposal."

This year's MEDREX marks the 10th anniversary of U.S. military and Ghana Armed Forces medical staff joining together to not only share and teach best medical practices, but to also administer care to hundreds of local Ghanaians. Ghana's MEDREX coincides with African Lion 2024 (AL24), U.S. Africa Command's premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). Running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. This year marks exercise's 20th anniversary.

"It is significant to me in the sense that I get to give back to the country that raised me," added Nimako. "I have been impacted by MEDREX. It has been a humbling experience watching doctors, nurses, and techs passionately caring for the patients with the limited equipment and supplies at their disposal."

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe & Africa with a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe. Through exercises like MEDREX, SETAF-AF demonstrates its commitment to promoting stability and security while strengthening partnerships with nations across the African continent.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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