The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have reiterated their resolve to protect the country’s territorial integrity amid the growing insurgencies and contemporary security challenges confronting sub-Saharan Africa.
Major General Lawrence Gbetanu, Chief of the Army Staff, said the military was up to the task, and would not take chances in dealing with existential threats.
“The military high command’s commitment to this venture is unwavering,” he assured while addressing the 15th edition of Exercise Tigers’ Path, at the Akim-Achiase Jungle Warfare School (JWS), in the Eastern Region.
The scope of this year’s Exercise covered tactical drills, including battle procedure, first aid, tactical casualty evacuation, improvised river crossing drills, platoon administration and offensive operations in the jungle, helicopter vectoring and marshalling drills, marksmanship, physical fitness, endurance, confidence building and patrolling techniques.
Since its official opening on November 02, 1976, the JWS, under the operational and administrative control of the Army Training Command, has over the years gained international reputation as a Centre of Excellence in jungle warfare training.
The School’s prominence has become more visible in recent times, particularly at a time when the sub-Region is seeing an upsurge in insurgencies, irregular warfare, violent extremism and terrorism.
Some four million people are currently displaced across Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighbouring countries, due to insurgencies and terrorism-related incursions, according to the United Nations (UN).
The International Organisation for Migration’s data shows the number of migrants arriving in Europe from the Sahelian countries rose 62 per cent to 17, 300 in the first six months of 2024 from 10, 700 a year earlier, an increase the UN and IOM blamed on insurgencies.
Major General Gbetanu described the security threats confronting the sub-Region as unpredictable, demanding superior military skills and tactical prowess to overcome them.
“Hence, Exercise Tigers’ Path provides an invaluable opportunity to sharpen combat skills, overcome adversity, reinforce joint operations, and evaluate our response mechanism to both conventional and unconventional threats,” he noted.
Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Codjoe, the JWS Commanding Officer, urged the officers and men participating in the 2025 programme to always abide by the Amed Forces’ code of ethics in their operational duties to ensure discipline.
He reminded the participants that experiences from contemporary trends in insurgency and terrorism made it imperative for the regular forces to have the capability to operate effectively in dealing with existential threats.
Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, the Deputy Defence Minister, and Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of the Defence Staff, were present at the programme to motivate and boost the morale of the military.
Exercise Tigers’ Path, which commenced in 1991, is a biennial exercise organised on a competitive basis among the services and formations of the GAF, encompassing the Ghana Army, Navy, Air Force, Southern Command, Central Commands, Northern Command, and Supporting Services.