Twenty personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have completed the Army Special Operations Forces Basic Course Five, 2026, after nine months of intensive training designed to improve their ability to respond to evolving security threats in West Africa.
The graduating group consists of one officer and 19 soldiers. Thirteen are from the Army Special Operations Brigade, while the other seven come from units and training institutions across the Ghana Armed Forces.
The programme began with an assessment and selection exercise in November 2025, which was attempted by 87 personnel. Only 30 candidates were selected to begin the course on January 12, 2026, before 20 successfully completed the full programme.
Training was structured to build physical endurance, mental resilience, tactical ability and leadership skills for operations in complex and demanding security environments.
Participants were trained to work across urban, rural, jungle, riverine and mountainous terrain. Their instruction included navigation, fieldcraft, communications, weapons handling, mission planning, leadership, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and close-quarter battle.
The course also focused on discipline, teamwork, adaptability and decision-making, all of which are considered essential when operating in unpredictable conditions.
Brigadier General Richard Mensah, Commander of the Army Special Operations Brigade, said the training was especially significant because of the increasingly complex security situation in West Africa and the Sahel.
The sub-region continues to face threats linked to terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime. Those challenges have increased pressure on military forces to improve their preparedness and develop specialist capabilities.
Special Operations Forces provide support to wider military operations through their specialised skills, flexibility and capacity to work in difficult environments.
The newly acquired expertise is expected to strengthen the Ghana Armed Forces’ ability to conduct missions requiring advanced military skills and contribute to wider national security objectives. It also forms part of efforts to develop personnel capable of responding to emerging threats and protecting Ghana’s territorial integrity.
Brigadier General Mensah told the graduates to uphold the warrior ethos of the Army Special Operations Brigade and maintain the highest standards of discipline and professionalism.
He also urged them to continue developing their physical fitness, tactical proficiency and leadership abilities, stressing that learning must continue after the formal course has ended.
The graduates are expected to apply their training in their respective assignments while maintaining a commitment to teamwork, operational excellence and the core values of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Their completion of the course underlines the role of specialised military training in building a capable and adaptable force as Ghana strengthens its preparedness against changing security threats in the sub-region.
By Joseph Armstrong Gold-Alorgbey
