Seventy Rapid Response Unit staff have successfully completed a three-week rigorous military training exercise at the 64 Infantry Regiment Training School at Asutsuare.
The training has equipped the staff with tactical skills in unarmed combat, patrolling, ambush, obstacle courses, and marksmanship principles, thus the ability to accurately handle firearms.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lt. Col. Prince Frimpong Owusu, Commanding Officer (CO) of the School, said he has seen massive improvement in the trainees as compared to when he first received them at the School.
He commended the trainees on the dedication and professionalism exhibited during the course and mentioned that he was impressed by their progress as they had greatly improved in teamwork, confidence, and leadership. He used the platform to advise them to transform the experiences they have garnered into their fields of work and in all their endeavors.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission (FC), Mr. Sulemana Nyadia Sulemana Nelson, who was also the Guest of Honour, spoke on behalf of the Chief Executive of FC, Mr. John Allotey. He congratulated the trainees for the successful completion of the program. According to him, illegal loggers, “galamsey”, farming among others, have become a danger to good forest management, with some operators carrying deadly weapons to commit atrocities in the forest, hence, the need to train the Rapid Response Unit to protect our forest and wildlife resources. According to him, the skills they have acquired will put them on a high pedestal in the fight against forest illegalities.
He, however, advised them to use the skills for the purpose for which it was acquired and not to intimidate others. The Guest of Honour appreciated the trainers from the Ghana Armed Forces, especially, the officers in charge of the 64 Infantry Regiment Training School, who took them through the intensive training.
The Human Resource (HR) Director, Mrs. Anne Brown, said FC prioritizes itself in training staff to properly equip them to carry out their duties properly. According to her, HR will be monitoring their performance to know if indeed the time, effort, and money put in place to get them trained is achieved. She encouraged them to go back to their various locations and translate all that they had learned into their field of work.
To the amazement of FC staff present at the closing ceremony, the trainees demonstrated some of the skills they had acquired during their stay at Asutsuare, which included “Taekwondo”, climbing monkey ladders, running through fire, and firearm skills. This exhibition of skills showed the depth and success of the training course.
Trainees were awarded certificates to signify the successful completion of their courses.
