The French Embassy in Ghana has completed a two-week counter-terrorism workshop for the Police Service's Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU). The training aimed to sharpen the unit's tactical readiness as extremist threats edge closer to Ghana's northern border. The workshop focused on building modern operational and tactical skills among CTU personnel to improve their preparedness against evolving security threats in West Africa. The training was part of deepening security cooperation between France and Ghana.
The training programme included rigorous exercises designed to strengthen the effectiveness of CTU personnel in real counter-terrorism operations. The workshop comes as jihadist activity continues to spread across the Sahel and inch toward Ghana's northern frontier. Ghana shares borders with countries in the Sahel region where jihadist groups have expanded their reach in recent years, raising concerns about spillover into coastal West African states.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director-General of Special Duties, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Raymond Ali Adofiem, warned the newly trained officers against resting on their achievement. He told the graduands that earning a certificate did not automatically translate into real capability, urging them to keep training, rehearsing and sharing what they had learned with their colleagues.
DCOP Adofiem also asked the officers to carry the discipline and knowledge gained back to their units and use it to make their teams stronger. He thanked the French government and the embassy for continuing to support Ghana's counter-terrorism departments and their instructors, describing the partnership as an important one for the country's security architecture.
In turn, the trainees presented the French officials who ran the programme with traditional smocks known as fugu, along with matching caps, a gesture that symbolised gratitude and friendship between Ghana and France. Officials at the ceremony said the training had been successful, pointing to the discipline and commitment the officers showed throughout the two weeks.
The workshop forms part of an ongoing security cooperation arrangement between France and Ghana. The Counter Terrorism Unit is the specialised arm of the Ghana Police Service tasked with preventing and responding to terrorist threats, distinct from regular police duties. Its officers are trained in tactics such as hostage rescue, explosive threat response and coordinated assault operations.
A better-trained Counter Terrorism Unit is intended to improve the police's ability to respond to incidents that could affect ordinary Ghanaians, from communities near the northern border to public spaces in major cities. The training will help the police to respond to evolving security threats in the region and maintain security in the country.
Key points
- The French Embassy in Ghana provided a two-week counter-terrorism training to the Ghana Police Service's CTU.
- The training aimed to enhance the unit's tactical readiness against extremist threats.
- The partnership between France and Ghana is part of a wider security cooperation arrangement.
