Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) has rounded off its maiden Prevention of the Recruitment and use of Children in Armed Violence Training of Trainers Course, which trained 40 personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
The closing ceremony for the 10-day intensive training was held at APOTS, Battle Training Camp, Bundase, on Friday 4 October 2024, with the Guest of Honour being the Commander, Army Training Command (ATRAC), Ghana Army – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey.
Brig Gen SWK Parbey said the training of trainers (ToT) was to qualify the participants to become trainers who have the requisite skills of knowledge, to convey the Dallaire Institute Child Protection awareness.
He added that having been through a rigorous indoor and outdoor training to build up their knowledge as skilled trainers, and being found academically worthy of conveying the Dallaire Institute mandate in Ghana and across the globe, to be able to train others as they had been trained, they must continue to upgrade their knowledge and not become dormant.
The course, which was sponsored by the Canadian Government, was meticulously designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the complexities surrounding the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.
It covered a comprehensive curriculum structured into 15 modules, which included both classroom sessions and practical field exercises that simulated real-world scenarios.
The training defined recruitment, explored the protective frameworks that must guide actions of security sector actors, and delved into the critical reasons why children are recruited and used in conflict, examining how they are exposed to violence, not just in times of war, but also during periods of peace.
It also discussed why the recruitment and use of children is of grave concern, not only for their future, but also for the security and stability of their communities, and analysed strategic impacts of security sector operations, highlighting how they affect ability to maintain peace and order.
Participants engaged in the planning process, recognizing the importance of strategic foresight, studied the concepts of moral injury and dilemma, which provided a framework for understanding the ethical challenges.
The tutelage also explored how security sector actors must communicate effectively with children, particularly those who have been recruited or are at risk of being used in conflicts, monitoring and reporting mechanisms to ensure effective and prompt responses to incidents involving children.
It also addressed the harrowing reality of conflict-related sexual violence, and the necessary procedures for the detention and handover of children, emphasizing the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect.
Working effectively with partners was also a recurring theme, highlighting that operational success hinges on collaboration, not just within GAF and GPS, but also with Non-Governmental Organizations, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
The course, which commenced on 24 September 2024, and culminated into practical demonstrations of techniques, tactics, and procedures for interacting in various scenarios involving children, would have its next edition extended to Ghana’s Prisons, Immigration, Fire, and intelligence agencies.
The closing ceremony was witnessed by the Commander, APOTS – Colonel Clement Kojo Dingane; Course Facilitators – Major General William Omane-Agyekum (Rtd) and Major James Tucker; Representative of GPS – Assistant Superintendent of Police Esther Akyea; and a Representative of Dallaire Institute – Mr Jean Baptiste Bizimungu.
Credit: APOTS PR
