The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Ghana Armed Forces Northern Command, Brigadier General Worlanyo Agbebo, has called on troops participating in exercise Storm Shield 2026 to uphold professionalism, discipline, and teamwork in the face of evolving security threats confronting the West African sub-region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exercise on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at the Joint Task Force Headquarters in Bazua, General Agbebo stressed the need for continuous operational readiness and effective inter-service coordination to address violent extremism, terrorism, and other emerging threats.
According to him, the changing security environment within the sub-region demands a high level of interoperability and professionalism from the security services to ensure sustainable peace and national development.
General Agbebo urged instructors and participating troops to approach the exercise with unwavering professionalism and a strong commitment to learning, stressing that discipline and preparedness remain critical to successful military operations.
He further encouraged soldiers to embrace continuous self-improvement and teamwork, noting that operational success depends not only on tactical competence but also on mental resilience and effective coordination among personnel.
Exercise Storm Shield 2026, organised by the Ghana Army in collaboration with the Ghana Navy and Ghana Air Force, is being conducted under the theme, “Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism for Sustainable Peace and Development.”
The battalion-level field training exercise aims to strengthen inter-service cooperation, improve operational coordination, and enhance the capacity of personnel to respond effectively to contemporary security threats.
The two-week exercise, which is receiving support from sister security agencies, will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will focus on tabletop exercises, while the second phase will involve field demonstrations of lessons learned during the initial stage.
Field activities are expected to take place at designated locations in Bazua in the Upper East Region and the Bui general area in the Bono Region.
The military says the integrated exercise is intended to deepen collaboration among participating institutions, improve team readiness, and strengthen organisational resilience in responding to modern security challenges.
By Castro Senyalah
