The Ghana Army has commenced the third edition of Exercise Starlight Stretch in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, with a strong focus on enhancing the operational readiness, professionalism and capacity of troops to respond to emerging security threats.
The three-week exercise brings together participating troops, instructors, evaluators, supporting agencies, security institutions, civil authorities, and other stakeholders to undertake intensive training in internal security, counter-insurgency, countering violent extremism and terrorism operations.
Colonel Lawrence Seddoh Agbedoawu, the Command Operations Officer of Headquarters Southern Command, speaking at the opening ceremony, expressed appreciation to the Municipal Chief Executive of Nkwanta South and the Municipal Assembly for their immense contribution, support and cooperation towards the successful commencement of the exercise.
He also commended the traditional authorities and residents of the Municipality for their hospitality and continued partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces, stressing that collaboration between the military, civil authorities and local communities was essential to promoting peace, security and development.
Col. Seddoh said, Exercise Starlight Stretch remained one of the Ghana Army’s flagship training activities and is designed to build on the successes and lessons learnt from previous editions, including the most recent exercise held in the Nkwanta South Municipality.
He explained that the latest edition had been carefully designed to prepare troops to respond effectively to the increasingly complex security environment confronting Ghana and the West African sub-region.
He noted that contemporary security threats continued to evolve, requiring military personnel to be agile, disciplined, well-trained, and capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency environments.
The officer emphasised that the exercise would progressively develop individual proficiency, small-unit competence, tactical decision-making, and combat team effectiveness through structured classroom instruction, practical exercises, and realistic field scenarios.
He continued that the participants would be training on the legal frameworks governing military operations, including rules of engagement, the law of armed conflict, respect for human rights, and established Standard Operating Procedures.
Also, the exercise would validate formation-level planning and oversight of internal security and counter-insurgency operations while strengthening interoperability among combat, combat support, and combat service support units.
The Command Operations Officer, however, urged all participating troops to approach the exercise with commitment, discipline, and professionalism, encouraging them to take advantage of the knowledge and experience of instructors, exercise controllers and evaluators.
He also expressed appreciation to Army Headquarters, General Headquarters, various formations and brigades of the Ghana Armed Forces, sister security agencies, and civil institutions for their support and collaboration towards the successful organisation of the exercise.
