The Ghana Army has started Exercise Thunderbolt 2026, a five-day shooting competition aimed at improving marksmanship, weapon-handling skills, and operational readiness among personnel. The exercise is being hosted by the 3 Infantry Battalion in Sunyani and is taking place at the Yawhima Military Shooting Range in the Bono Region. This annual event brings together teams from various commands and formations across the country.
The competition features teams from the Southern Command, Northern Command, Central Command, Support Services Command, Army Special Operations Brigade, 15 Armoured Brigade, 17 Army Signal Brigade, 16 Artillery Brigade, and 14 Engineer Brigade. Participants will compete in marksmanship and weapon handling while sharing training ideas, experiences, and best practices. This exchange is expected to foster healthy competition, cohesion, and camaraderie among personnel.
The opening ceremony took place on Monday, September 28, 2026, and was attended by the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa. He commended the Ghana Army for selecting the Bono Region to host the exercise, describing it as an important initiative for maintaining operational readiness and professionalism. The Minister also acknowledged the Ghana Army's contribution to maintaining peace and security and supporting national development.
According to the Bono Regional Minister, a peaceful and secure environment is essential for attracting investment, protecting livelihoods, and promoting sustainable economic growth. He urged participants to uphold discipline, safety, teamwork, and professionalism throughout the competition. The Minister also encouraged communities to continue supporting security agencies in safeguarding peace and stability.
Brigadier General Joshua Amanor, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Central Command, emphasized that Exercise Thunderbolt goes beyond a shooting competition. He described it as a critical military training activity designed to improve soldiers' professional competence, combat effectiveness, and operational readiness. The exercise seeks to intensify training in weapon handling and marksmanship, promote the exchange of ideas and best practices, and foster healthy competition.
Brigadier General Amanor noted that the exercise comes at a time when the Ghana Army is transforming to respond effectively to an increasingly complex and unpredictable security environment. Emerging threats, including violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime, and armed robbery, require the Ghana Armed Forces to maintain a high level of preparedness. He stressed that operational readiness cannot be developed when a crisis occurs but must be built beforehand through realistic, deliberate, and continuous training.
The competition will also help identify and develop a strong Army shooting team to represent the Ghana Army at the forthcoming Ghana Armed Forces shooting competition, Exercise Fire Blast 2026. The GOC urged participants to compete hard but fairly, using the opportunity not only to demonstrate their skills but also to learn from other teams and strengthen professional relationships. He reminded the soldiers that safety, discipline, and strict adherence to range procedures must remain paramount throughout the exercise.
Key points
- The Ghana Army has commenced Exercise Thunderbolt 2026, a five-day shooting competition to enhance marksmanship and operational readiness among personnel.
- The exercise is being hosted by the 3 Infantry Battalion in Sunyani and features teams from various commands and formations across the country.
- The competition aims to promote healthy competition, cohesion, and camaraderie among personnel while maintaining operational readiness and professionalism.
