Kofi Ampeah Woode
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Command (N/COMD) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Matthew Essien has reiterated the Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) commitment to protect Ghana’s northern frontiers from threats of violent extremism (VE) and terrorism.
He stated this once again, during the opening ceremony of EXERCISE AFRICAN LION 2023 (AL23) – the 19th edition which is being co-hosted by Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and Djibouti with over 8,000 participants from 18 Nations across the continent – at the Justice Opoku Hall at Kamina Barracks, Tamale on Monday 5 June 2023.
Brig Gen M Essien noted that the threats of violent extremism from the Sahel Region towards Ghana was eminent, real and dangerous hence, the need for such exercises that are designed to enhance the capacity of troops, in readiness to defend the borders of Ghana.
The Leader of the United Sates Army team in Ghana – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) John Morrow in his remarks, stated that AL23 is the United States Africa Command’s (USAFRICOM) largest and premier joint exercise conducted on the African continent. He added that there earlier was the Staff Academics, and that the Field Training Exercises were designed to improve capabilities and interoperability, to prevent terrorists from operating within the borders of Ghana.
Exercise African Lion – whose 19th edition is scheduled on the continent variously between May 13 to June 19, 2023, is considered by the US Army as the centrepiece of USAFRICOM exercise strategy, and one of the greatest US exercises across the globe.
AL23 features multiple combined arms live fire exercises, a maritime exercise, an air exercise with US C-130J Super Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, F-16 Fighting Falcons and bomber aircraft, a joint forcible entry with paratroopers into a field training exercise, two chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear response exercises, and three humanitarian civic assistance program events.
US Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) establishes Exercise Africa Lion’s combined joint task force headquarters, integrating AFRICOM components and international partners to provide mission command across the training enterprise, with US participants coming from across the joint force, including Reserves and National Guard.
AL23 seeks to strengthen shared defence capabilities and cooperation to counter transnational threats and VE organizations, and expects to bolster partnerships between African, US and other international militaries, increasing interoperability during crisis and operations to increase security and stability in the African region.
