The Second Infantry Battalion (2BN) in the Western Region has launched a 3-Day Counter Terrorism and Multi-Agencies Inter-operability training exercise dubbed, “Exercise Western Shield 2020”.
The Exercise forms part of its preparedness to create election security awareness and ward off external threats like terrorism before, during and after the December 7, general elections.
The 2BN which has military operational responsibility of Ghana’s Western Territories comprising Western and Western North Regions has earmarked October 6, 2020 to October 9, 2020 for the Exercise in Takoradi.
The Exercise will involve movement of troops and use of blank ammunitions with few explosives in controlled areas across the two regions of Western and Western North Regions.
Speaking at the launch, Major Martin D. Dziedzorm Dey, Comd. Rear of the 2BN explained that the attacks on Ghana’s neighboring countries call for swift preventive and deterrent measures to be ahead of any unforeseen attacks.
He explained that the closeness of terrorist threats amidst seemingly rising political tension require that troops are trained and exercised on contemporary Internal Security Tactics, techniques and procedures, as part of deterrence, detection, delay and devaluation of likely threats.
Major Dziedzorm pointed out that the Election Security Joint Operation Centre will develop best strategies to handle election related violences like ballot snatching, rioting, etc. with a contingency plan.
Western Regional Minister, Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah who launched the Exercise noted that the Exercise is one that will sharpen the skills and enhance the capabilities of our security agencies to deal decisively with any internal security challenges and against any external aggression.
“Looking at the preparations that have gone into this 3-day Counter Terrorism and General Security Training Exercise, the high morale among the men and women in uniform as well as the smart turnout for today’s programme, I have no doubt whatsoever in your ability to protect and jealously guard the peace and security of the Western Region and Ghana as a whole”, he opined.
According to him, the world is now being confronted with heightened threats of terrorism, cyber war, piracy and insurgencies while countries that have witnessed and experienced these threats have suffered loss of lives and damage to state infrastructure, and devastated economies.
Against this backdrop, he said there was the need to forge alliances, share intelligence and be proactive to counter these common enemies that have become more urgent than ever before for our own survival and progress.
He said, the security of the Western Region and for that matter Ghana, should be a collective responsibility and for that matter the 3-days training exercise has come at the right time in that it will enhance professionalism and monitoring of the security situation in the Region and the country at large.
Mr Darko-Mensah further stated that it was imperative for various Commanders to ascertain the level of readiness of personnel to combat multiple terrorist attacks in their area of responsibilities, while testing the ability of personnel in operation involving all security stakeholders.
Staff Sergeant Nonna Sokka, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the 2Garrison hinted that there will be routine activities and patrols would be done concurrently at the beaches, churches, mosques, malls, key institutions and personalities, barracks and security installations during the Exercise.
He indicated that there would be a two day simulation exercise to prepare special installations like the 2BN Headquarters, Western Regional Administration, the Bank of Ghana and the Atuabo Gas Installation, and a route march through the principal streets of Sekondi-Takoradi to climax the Exercise.
Sergeant Nonna maintained that the Exercise will enhance coordination among stakeholders for an improved security and called on the members of the public to have confidence in the security forces and not panic upon seeing the personnel in their midst during the Exercise.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
