Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana’s Military College – the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) has commenced its 2023 Counter Terrorism and Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Course, to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effectively combat terrorism and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) threats.
The course which commenced on Monday July 24, 2023, with Mr James Agalga – Member of Ghana’s Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Defence and Interior, has a wide array of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside personnel from security services in Ghana, and various African Armed Forces, as participants.
Mr Agalga said terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, has emerged as one of the most significant challenges of modern times, with its devastating impact knowing no boundaries, shattering lives, destabilizing nations, and undermining foundations of peace, security, and prosperity all aspire for.
He continued that within the landscape of terror, IEDs stand as a particularly insidious threat, used by terrorist groups to inflict harm, sow fear, and maximize casualties, and that the students will delve into the intricacies of this specific threat, exploring its various components, construction methods, detection techniques, and most importantly, prevention and mitigation strategies.
He urged the participants to perceive the course as not just an intellectual pursuit, but as a call to action to stand up against the forces of violence, hatred and extremism, and to become catalysts for change within communities and societies, safeguarding shared values, protecting innocent lives, and preserving the principles of justice, tolerance, and human rights.
He further stated that the fight against terrorism, including IEDs, extends beyond mere reactionary measures, to necessitating a proactive and comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of radicalization, disrupting the supply chains of IED components, and promoting cooperation between law enforcement agencies, intelligence organizations, and communities at large.
GAFCSC’s 2023 Counter Terrorism and Counter IEDs Course will cover a broad range of topics, including IED threat analysis, understanding terrorist motivations, intelligence-driven operations, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and the development of innovative technologies to counter IEDs.
Present at the course’s commencement included GAFCSC’s Deputy Commandant – Brigadier General Abass Seidu, Assistant Commandant – Air Commodore Eric Yirenkyi, Director of Academic Affairs – Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Chief Coordinator – Colonel Maxwell Mantey, Course Director, Chief Instructors, Senior Research Fellows, Directing Staff, and Resource Persons.
