The Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has launched Exercise Stralight Stretch II with an opening ceremony held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Nkwanta in the Oti Region.
The ceremony marked the commencement of the second phase of the Ghana Army’s 2026/2027 training year.
The guest of honour, Joseph Awal Antwi, the Municipal Chief Executive for Nkwanta South, expressed confidence in the Ghana Army’s ability to restore and maintain peace in the area.
He welcomed the troops to Nkwanta and assured them of the Municipal Assembly’s support throughout the exercise.
Addressing the troops, the Commanding Officer of the 3 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Michael Naah, said Exercise Starlight Stretch II is intended to consolidate the gains made during Phase One while further enhancing the operational readiness of personnel.
He explained that the training would be conducted simultaneously at Nkwanta and Bawku, reflecting the Ghana Army’s commitment to maintaining a well-trained, disciplined and mission-ready force capable of responding effectively to the country’s evolving security environment.
Lt Col Naah noted that emerging threats such as violent extremism, terrorism and other internal security challenges require personnel to remain adaptive, professional and prepared to operate jointly with other security agencies and relevant civil authorities.
He added that the exercise would strengthen participants’ capabilities in conventional warfare and internal security/counter-insurgency operations while enhancing interoperability among the various units and partner security agencies.
He urged the troops to demonstrate professionalism, discipline and commitment throughout the training, stressing that safety remained paramount.
He therefore called on all personnel to strictly adhere to exercise directives, safety regulations, and administrative instructions.
The three-week exercise will be conducted at Nkwanta and Bawku, with personnel drawn from various units of the Ghana Army.
It forms part of the Army’s continuous efforts to enhance operational preparedness and strengthen inter-agency collaboration in support of national security.
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