The Ghana Army has commenced the 2026 edition of Exercise Thunderbolt, a five-day shooting competition aimed at enhancing marksmanship, weapon-handling skills and operational readiness among personnel.
The exercise, being hosted by the 3 Infantry Battalion in Sunyani, is taking place at the Yawhima Military Shooting Range in the Bono Region.
The competition brings together teams from the Southern Command, Northern Command, Central Command, Support Services Command, Army Special Operations Brigade, 15 Armoured Brigade, 17 Army Signal Brigade, 16 Artillery Brigade and 14 Engineer Brigade.
The participants are expected to compete in marksmanship and weapon handling while sharing training ideas, experiences and best practices across the various commands and formations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, September 28, 2026, the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, commended the Ghana Army for selecting the region to host the exercise.
He described the exercise as an important initiative for maintaining operational readiness and professionalism while strengthening public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
The Minister also acknowledged the contribution of the Ghana Army to maintaining peace and security and supporting national development.
He stressed that a peaceful and secure environment is essential for attracting investment, protecting livelihoods and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Mr Akwaboa urged participants to uphold discipline, safety, teamwork and professionalism throughout the competition, while encouraging communities to continue supporting security agencies in safeguarding peace and stability.
For his part, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Central Command, Brigadier General Joshua Amanor, said Exercise Thunderbolt goes beyond a shooting competition, describing it as a critical military training activity designed to improve soldiers’ professional competence, combat effectiveness and operational readiness.
He explained that the exercise seeks to intensify training in weapon handling and marksmanship, promote the exchange of ideas and best practices, and foster healthy competition, cohesion and camaraderie among personnel.
According to him, the competition will also help identify and develop a strong Army shooting team to represent the Ghana Army at the forthcoming Ghana Armed Forces shooting competition, Exercise Fire Blast 2026.
Brigadier General Amanor said the exercise comes at a time when the Ghana Army is transforming to respond effectively to an increasingly complex and unpredictable security environment.
He noted that emerging threats, including violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime and armed robbery, require the Ghana Armed Forces to maintain a high level of preparedness.
He stressed that operational readiness cannot be developed when a crisis occurs but must be built beforehand through realistic, deliberate and continuous training.
The GOC therefore urged participants to compete hard but fairly, using the opportunity not only to demonstrate their skills but also to learn from other teams and strengthen professional relationships.
He reminded the soldiers that they remain soldiers first and competitors second, insisting that safety, discipline and strict adherence to range procedures must remain paramount throughout the exercise.
He challenged all participants to give their best and uphold the finest traditions of the Ghana Army as they compete for honours at Exercise Thunderbolt 2026.
By Claude Kumi Abisa
