A warning has been issued by the Ghana Armed Forces regarding the escalating threats of terrorism, violent extremism, and organised crime across the Sahel and the wider West African sub-region.
Underlining the urgent necessity for robust, highly trained specialised units to tackle these emerging security risks, the Commander of the Army Special Operations Brigade, Brigadier General Richard Kainyi Mensah, stressed that the contemporary security environment has become increasingly complex, demanding disciplined, resilient, and highly capable special operations operators.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the Army Special Operations Forces Basic Course 5/2026, Brig. Gen. Mensah underscored the grueling nature of the preparation required for such elite combatants, noting, “Special operations training is characterised by physical hardship, mental endurance, courage, discipline and determination.”
The graduation ceremony brought to a close a rigorous nine-month programme designed to test the absolute limits of candidates.
A total of 87 personnel, made up of two officers and 85 soldiers, initially stepped forward to attempt the selection process last year.
However, the demanding standards meant that only 30 candidates qualified to commence the core training on January 12 this year.
Following nine months of unyielding instruction and endurance tests, just 20 operators—comprising one officer and 19 soldiers—managed to cross the finish line and complete the course successfully.
Breakdown of the graduating class reveals that 13 belong to the Army Special Operations Brigade.
The remaining seven were selected from various other units within the Ghana Armed Forces, including the 5th Infantry Battalion, 10 Mechanic Battalion, 153 Armoured Regiment, Jungle Warfare School, 37 Military Hospital, and the Ghana Armed Forces Physical Training School.
Addressing the high drop-out rate, Brig. Gen. Mensah pointed out that special operations selection processes globally typically record attrition rates ranging between 50 and 70 percent.
He emphasised that these figures highlight both the severe toughness of the course and the exceptional caliber of the men who persevered to the end.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
