Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in conjunction with the United States (US) Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) have marked a successful completion of EXERCISE AFRICAN LION 2025.
The 2025 version of EX AFRICAN LION focused on academics, Military Decision Making Process, Joint Planning Process, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance among others.
The closing ceremony which took place on Friday 16 May 2025, at the Air Force Training Command in Tamale, crowned what commenced on Monday 5 May 2025, with participants drawn from the various Units from Ghana, Benin, Liberia, Togo and Sierra Leone militaries.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), Northern Command (N/COMD) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Frank Nartey Tei, by his Command Operations Officer (COO) – Colonel (Col) Frank Gyabi-Abrokwah, participants were reminded of the significance of the exercise, and how it would benefit the various Armed Forces there represented.
He stated that, EX AFRICAN LION is the United States Africa Command’s largest annual exercise, and aims at improving interoperability with partner nations, supporting the US military strategic readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa.
He emphasized that, the conflict situation in the Northern part of Ghana, and the terrorist threat from the Sahel Region towards Northern Ghana, calls for constant training and preparation of personnel, hence the need for the exercise.
The GOC on behalf of Ghana’s Military High Command, thanked the US Government for the training opportunities given to GAF, and advised participants to use the knowledge and skills acquired to benefit both themselves and their militaries, reminding them to remain professional at all times.
The Leader of the SETAF-AF team in Ghana -Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Obadiah Brians in his remarks stated that, the concept of EX AFRICAN LION is to enhance capacity, lethality, and readiness of multinational partners, and strengthen cooperation so they can successfully lead and execute regional security initiatives.
He added that, this year’s exercise took place in Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, and Ghana, with over 50 nations and 10,000 troops conducting dynamic and collaborative training, with the aim of growing and building individual capacities, as well as their ability to work together.
He expressed his gratitude to GAF and the GOC for giving them the opportunity to train the troops, and congratulated the participants for successfully completing the exercise.
Present at the ceremony included Commander, Air Force Training Command – Air Commodore Richard Danso; Head of Department, GAF Critical Care and Emergency Hospital – Brig Gen Percy Annan; Deputy Commanding General, SETAF-AF – Brig Gen John A LeBlanc; Staff Officers from Ghana’s Army Headquarters and Northern Command.
Credit: PR DET, N/COMD
