Kofi Ampeah Woode
Conflicts, crises, and disasters are inevitably part of humanity; and whether man-made or natural, they would always have dire consequences on lives, properties and the environment; however, managing them requires pro-activeness, and a synergistic approach which places greater emphasis on inter-sectorial, inter-institutional and interagency cooperation.
Ghana’s National Security Coordinator – Edward Asomani made the notion as Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the 2023 edition of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff and College’s (GAFCSC) two-week Conflict and Crisis Management Course, on Monday 10 July 2023.
Mr Asomani said conflicts and crises poorly managed, threaten national security, and that there should be personal mustering of management of conflict and crisis, to help increase the potentials of various nations for conflict and crisis management, to minimize the loss of lives and property and human suffering, which would result in a more resilient, safe and secure nation.
Engaging participants of the course, the security expert said, middle-level managers – such as they are – serve as that important bridge between policymakers and beneficiaries of policy decisions, and that their depth of knowledge, expertise and professionalism would always prove useful in the effective management of conflicts and crisis situations.
Mr Asomani said the Course aims at providing the participants with a clearer understanding of conflict and internal crisis management, in order for them to work more effectively, efficiently and cohesively.
He further stated that the Course has core objectives of pinpointing: 1) threats to national safety and security (both natural and man-made), 2) human, ethical and moral dimensions of conflict and crisis management, 3) key organizations involved in conflict and crisis management, and 4) conflict and internal crisis management techniques.
He hinted the participants that the large-scale displacement of persons resulting from the war in Ukraine, the collapsed Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria – termed the deadliest natural disaster in modern history, impact of the End SARS protests in Nigeria, the twin flooding and fire disasters on 3 June 2015 in Ghana, and the Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, are a few of numerous examples of situations that they shall be called upon to help manage, through syndicates brainstorming, and given scenarios during simulation exercises.
GAFCSC – Ghana’s military college, for the present academic year, has successfully organized the Maritime Sector Governance Course, Peace Operations Course, and the Defence Management Course, with participants consisting of 85 African Military Officers, others from other Ghanaian security services, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and media houses, with the focus of forging a sense of cohesion and purpose between Armed Forces and other institutions, for national growth and development.
Present at the ceremony were Commandant, GAFCSC – Major General Irvine Aryeetey, Deputy Commandant – Brigadier General Abass Seidu, Assistant Commandant, Senior Division – Air Commodore Eric Yirenkyi, Dean and Director Academic Affairs – Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Chief Coordinator – Colonel Maxwell Mantey, Directors, Senior Research Fellows, Chief Instructors, Directing Staff, Resource Persons and participants.
