45 RSLAF Personnel Begin Seven-Week Training Programme in Ghana

Forty-five personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) have commenced a seven-week Training-the-Trainer (ToT) programme in Ghana aimed at enhancing the military’s instructional capacity, leadership development, and operational readiness.

The training officially started on Monday, 20 July 2026, at Buchanan Hall, Whistler Barracks, Teshie, under the Ghana Armed Forces’ Army Combat Training School (ACTS).

The programme forms part of the longstanding defence cooperation between the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the RSLAF, which seeks to strengthen professional competence, improve instructional standards, and promote regional security through capacity-building initiatives.

The Sierra Leone contingent consists of four commissioned officers and 41 soldiers, including three female personnel. The participants will spend five weeks at the Army Combat Training School before proceeding to the Jungle Warfare School for an additional two weeks of specialised training.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Commander of the Army Combat Training School, Colonel Ekow Nkrane Mensah-Yawson, welcomed the RSLAF delegation to Ghana and urged participants to fully utilise the opportunity to improve their professional skills.

He encouraged them to demonstrate commitment, resilience, discipline, and professionalism throughout the course, reminding them that they were representing both Sierra Leone and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.

Colonel Mensah-Yawson noted that discipline remains a defining quality of every professional soldier and would be critical to the successful completion of the programme.

The Training-the-Trainer course is designed to provide participants with advanced instructional techniques, tactical knowledge, and leadership skills required for contemporary military operations. It is also expected to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the Ghana Armed Forces and the RSLAF while strengthening the defence partnership between the two countries.

Upon completion, the trained personnel are expected to return to Sierra Leone with improved capabilities to train and mentor other RSLAF members, contributing to the continuous professional development of the country’s armed forces.

The initiative further demonstrates the commitment of Sierra Leone and Ghana to strengthening military professionalism, improving training standards, and advancing regional security through sustained defence cooperation.