The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, has warned that the Ghana Armed Forces are fully prepared to deal decisively with any individual or group that attempts to disrupt peace in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region.
According to Major General Gbetanu, Ghana’s peace and stability must be protected at all times, stressing that Nkwanta South must not become a source of insecurity for the Oti Region or the country.
He said the military would not tolerate any acts that threaten public safety, undermine peaceful coexistence or destabilise communities.
Major General Gbetanu made the remarks at the closing ceremony of Exercise Starlight Stretch, a three-week internal security training exercise that ended in Nkwanta on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The annual exercise is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness, tactical proficiency and field capabilities of military personnel to respond effectively to emerging security threats.
The training covered a range of operational activities, including house-clearing operations, patrols, ambush drills, drone awareness, cordon-and-search operations, vehicle checkpoints, deliberate defence drills, as well as intelligence and information gathering.
According to the organisers, the exercises were designed to reflect real-life operational scenarios and prepare troops for the complex demands of modern internal security operations.
Major General Gbetanu said the training was structured to simulate realistic operational environments while equipping personnel with the skills needed to respond to evolving security threats.
He explained that the programme combined conventional military tactics with internal security and counter-insurgency operations to ensure troops are prepared for different security situations.
The Chief of Army Staff further disclosed that he had secured full funding for the remaining phases of Exercise Starlight Stretch in 2026.
He revealed that the exercise would continue to focus on Nkwanta South, with additional personnel expected to be deployed to achieve the desired operational objectives and deter any threats to peace.
Major General Gbetanu commended the officers and soldiers for their discipline, resilience and professionalism throughout the exercise.
He also praised the trainers, evaluators, safety officers, medical personnel and administrative staff for their contributions to the successful execution of the programme.
He congratulated all participants on completing the exercise and urged them to continue upholding the professionalism, discipline and values of the Ghana Armed Forces as they work to safeguard peace and security across the country.
ALSO READ:
Migration issues won’t affect Ghana-South Africa relations – South African Foreign…
Self-styled Imam jailed 10 years for defiling 7-year-old boy in Wa
