Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Army Training Command (ATRAC) has graduated twenty (20) Senior Officers/participants from the Third Batch of its Battalion Commanders’ Course (BCC 3 – 23) after ten weeks of intensive hard work, to ensure that the critical skillset for commanding, training and administration are acquired, before being at the actual exercise of Command.
The closing ceremony for the 10-week BCC 3 – 23, took place on Friday 22 December 2023, at the Buchana Auditorium, ATRAC, Teshie Ridge, Accra, with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah as the Guest of Honour.
The COAS commenced his remarks with excitement that the Battalion Commanders Course has finally gained roots, taking its place as an important event in the Professional Military Education (PME) system for Officers of the Ghana Army.
He said the course was initiated after sober review of the PME system for Army Officers and the realization of a big gap, which indicated the lack of specific and realistic training that equips Officers with a skillset necessary to hold command at the unit and lower tactical formation levels.
General Oppong-Peprah continued to state that the course was designed to equip participants with the required knowledge for a Battle Group up to a Division or its equivalent, in peace, war and counter insurgencies and during peace support operations, and that he had directed its incorporation into the professional development and career progression paths of Army Officers, irrespective of their field of specialty.
The skills participants have acquired during the course would serve as a compass guiding them through the unchartered territories with confidence, and that the relevance of the course cannot be underplayed; for any student who does not take it seriously, does so at his or her own professional disadvantage, he said.
He added that in the ever-evolving landscape of a modern world, where challenges are diverse from technological advancements to geopolitical shifts, their roles as leaders demand adaptability and resilience, even though within every challenge lies an opportunity for growth and innovation.
He commended ATRAC for the continuous review of the course package to address contemporary challenges, such as violent extremism and terrorism, and hoped that as part of the curriculum, a command study tour of the Upper West Region, had enabled the Senior Officers to appreciate the real threat and what is being done by troops and other security services in the Region, to fight off the threat.
The participants of BCC 3 – 23 presented a report of the Study Tour – of which the COAS assured of a review by the Army Headquarters Staff for adoption, if need be, and to share same with the Upper West Regional Minister for the consideration of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) – and also undertook a Table Top Exercise codenamed Ex YELE MAALO.
The Commander, ATRAC – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey, in his opening remarks said that, until three years ago, it was only a dream and a talk about the need for a Battalion Commanders’ Course, to prepare post-Senior Command and Staff College graduates, to take up battalion and its equivalent appointments.
The dream, he said, changed into reality in 2021 when the COAS personally provided funding and other resources for the commencement of the Course and has sustained it over the last 3 years.
At the awards, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) SS Karbo emerged the OVERALL BEST in the order of merit; Lt Col BY Basuglo won 1ST RUNNER UP; and Lt Col I Awunigaten won 2nd Second Runner Up, out of the 20 participants comprising of 19 Army Officers (including 1 Lady Officer) and 1 Naval Officer.
BCC 3 – 23 had Resource Persons from Ghana’s academia, politicians, serving and retired Generals, Senior Officers, Traditional Rulers, business magnates and entrepreneurs as Facilitators.
Present at the ceremony were the Commander, Army Combat Training School (ACTS) – Colonel (Col) Bob Naah; Service Financial Comptroller – Col Miki Nkrumah; Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters, Command Sergeant Major, School Sergeant Major, and Defence Civilian Staff.
