Kofi Ampeah Woode
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Command (N/COMD) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Matthew Essien has opened a three-week Border Security Course for Sixty (60) selected All Ranks under N/COMD and the Air Force Base (AFB), Tamale.
On Monday 3 July 2023, at the Justice Opoku Hall, 6 Infantry Battalion in Kamina barracks, the Border Security Course, facilitated by the 2nd Security Forces Assistance Brigade (2SFAB) of the United States Army commenced, and would focus on reconnaissance, standing and fighting patrols, land navigation, medical evacuation and communication.
The course is aimed at improving the tactical and technical proficiency of troops in border security duties, updating participant’s knowledge in planning border security operations, practicing the participants in the reconnaissance and execution of border security operations and also train trainers for the Command.
Brig Gen M Essien in his address to the participants averred that it was imperative as an Armed Force to continue to train in order to acquire the requisite skills that would enable his command in discharging its duties effectively, and also prepare troops in combating violent extremism (VE) and terrorist armed groups (TAGs).
He further stated that recent activities on Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso, which has resulted in a high number of immigrants traversing into Ghana, has also necessitated the running of the training programme, and thus urged the participants to wholly commit to the course to ensure its success.
The 2SFAB team leader – Captain Christian Mendez in his remarks, mentioned that the border security programme was designed to continue enhancing the capabilities and capacities to tackle the most dynamic and challenging security threats, should they arise, and expressed optimism on the success in the training programme, with the overall intent towards the peace and security of Ghana.
