Kofi Ampeah Woode
Twenty-four (24) Ghana Army Senior Officers (19 males and 5 females) have been awarded certificates and badges, after being through 10-weeks of intensive training of the Battalion Commanders’ Course (BCC) 4, conducted by the Army Combat Training School (ACTS), under the supervision of the Army Training Command (ATRAC).
The fourth batch of the BCC graduated on Friday 13 December 2024, at a ceremony held at the Buchanan Hall, ATRAC Headquarters (HQ), Teshie, Accra, with the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Ghana Army – Major General (Maj Gen) Bismarck Kwasi Onwona as Chief Guest, and was represented by the Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Army HQ – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Atogebakoga Alobawone.
The BCC (initiated by Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah – then COAS, now Chief of the Defence Staff, Ghana Armed Forces – as a career progression course in 2021), had the 4th batch comprised of Senior Officers drawn from the General HQ, Army HQ and various Units of the Army.
It was initiated after a review of the need to equip Senior Officers to fit into Command and key staff appointments to execute assigned roles, and has been designed to enhance, deepen, and enlighten participants’ knowledge of contemporary security threats, governance, and policy-related matters.
The BCC has now been incorporated into the professional development and career progression plan of all Army Officers, irrespective of their field of specialty, and could be the apex military career course for Officers, who may not have the opportunity to attend the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) – Ghana’s War College.
This Professional Military Education (PME) course, focuses on Unit administration, multi-domain operations, geopolitics, international diplomacy, counterterrorism, intelligence, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and robotics.
The BCC package, evolving beyond GAF, is expected to assimilate officers in similar capacities in Ghana’s sister Security Services to participate, just as obtains in some courses at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) and other institutions, to enhance security interoperability.
As part of the course, BCC 4 also undertook a Study Tour of Ghana’s Western Region, with an objective to enable participants appreciate real threats in the Region, and the roles played by various Security Agencies to combat such security threats.
The Class paid study visits to the Ghana National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre, the Ghana Boundary Commission, and the Signal Drones Squadron, and also had tour presentations, and a Table Top Exercise codenamed Ex SANZIRI SPIRAL to enhance participants’ understanding of the operations of these institutions.
The course facilitators comprised of academia lecturers, politicians, serving and retired Generals and Senior Officers, traditional rulers, captains of Industry and entrepreneurship.
In his speech, the COAS said the skills participants gained during the BCC 4, would serve as a compass that would give them the necessary bearing to navigate uncharted territories confidently and competently, making them better, more effective, and visionary commanders and leaders.
“Our challenges as a nation are diverse and complex in the ever-evolving landscape of the modern world. Thus, from technological advancements to geopolitical shifts, your role as leaders demands adaptability, resilience and dogged commitment to address the numerous challenges confronting us”, the COAS said.
After certificate presentations, awards were presented to Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Michael Naah for emerging as the Overall Best in the order of merit of the course; to Lt Col Joshua Adongo for placing Second; and to Lt Col Eric Sefa Boye for placing Third.
Present at the closing ceremony included the Commander, ATRAC – Brig Gen Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey; Commander ACTS – Col Robert Narh; Principal Officers of the Army HQ: Chief Instructor/Course Coordinator – Lt Col Ibrahim Enusah Abdulaye; the Directing Staff, ACTS – Lt Col Martin Dziedzorm Dey; and the Sergeant Major, ACTS.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
