Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Federal Republic of Germany has pledged to continue to provide the needed financial and technical support for the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to continue its training of military, police and civilian personnel, operating in challenging peace support operations across the world.
The German Ambassador to Ghana – His Excellency (HE) Daniel Krull who made the commitment, further stated that Germany, being a staunch supporter of the KAIPTC since its inception in 2004, favours a regional approach to crisis prevention and conflict management on the African continent and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular.
HE Mr Krull made the commitment when he officially opened the two–week African Union Peace Support Operations (AU PSO) Staff Course 2023, at the KAIPTC, Accra on Monday 8 2023, for 24 participants from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
He further committed his government’s support for plans of African partners, in establishing an African peace and security architecture, and shared responsibility in security matters – which he said had ensured peace, security and stability beyond one’s borders, and has been particularly reflected in the Africa Union (AU) peace support operations.
He continued to say that it is for this reason that the German Government is extra excited to be supporting the AU PSO course, which is developed specifically and specially for AU PSO, stating emphatically that, it has become evident that using United Nations (UN) PSO concepts for AU missions, has not been as effective as hoped, because the dynamics are similar but not the same.
On the course specific, the German Ambassador opined that the era of using UN PSO concepts for AU and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) PSO, is gradually coming to end, with the development of AU specific concepts, and would make AU PSOs more responsive and effective.
He continued that the AU PSO Staff Course is to respond among other things, to the specific needs of planning, decision making, analysis skills, research skills, report writing, presentation skills, asset management, technical writing skills, professional writing techniques, and aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of participants, to effectively perform their operational, administrative and logistical functions in AU PSOs.
Ambassador Krull concluded that, apart from familiarizing participants with the nature of conflicts in Africa, the course will acquaint participants with the AU System, including the structure of AU PSOs and the concept of Integrated Mission Support in AU PSOs, and will highlight the importance of health, safety and security in AU PSOs, exposing them to crosscutting issues in AU PSOs.
The Director Training, KAIPTC – Colonel Anorph Barnabas Akanbong said the AU PSO Staff Course is requested by the AU of the Centre, to develop a tailor-made course to respond among other things to the continental body’s specific needs.
He listed the training modules for the Course as: 1) Nature of Conflicts in Africa, 2) The AU System, 3) AU PSOs, 4) Structure of AU PSOs, 5) Integrated Mission Support in AU PSOs, 6) AU Compliance and Accountability Framework, 7) Health, Safety and Security in AU PSOs, 8) AU Briefing and Writing Skills, 9) Crosscutting Issues, and 10) Scenario-based Exercise.
Present at the opening was the Course Director – Col Edem Akagbor.
