Commandants of ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence discuss security in sub-region
The Commandants of the three ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence (TCE) are meeting in Accra to discuss issues of mutual concern, particularly how to boost security in the sub-region following the recent terrorism threats.
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The two-day bi-annual tripartite meeting will be a platform for the commandants to discuss the modalities for enhancing technical and operational cooperation between the ECOWAS Commission and the TCEs.
The meeting, among others, is focused on training and research in relation to the evolving security situation in the sub-region.
The international meeting is being hosted by the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
Opening ceremony
In her remarks to open the meeting, Mrs Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, the commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace and Security for the ECOWAS Commission, said the commission was currently assisting member states in their national efforts to combat terrorism.
As a result, she added, more than 300 law enforcement agents at the regional and national levels had been trained.
That, Mrs Suleiman said, formed part of the sub-regional body’s counter–terrorism strategy and implementation plan.
“Within the context of regional peace and security challenges, characterised by maritime insecurity and terrorism, ECOWAS is contributing relentlessly to the fight against terrorism in the sub-region,” she said.
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Mrs Suleiman revealed that ECOWAS’ contribution was being done through the mobilisation of international support for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) set up to facilitate the commission’s anti-terrorism campaign.
“ The recent terrorist attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d’ Ivoire further reinforces the lessons learned from our deployment in the African Union-led international support for Mali on the need to include counter-terrorism warfare in the training of armed forces in the region”, she stated.
According to her, training the armed forces in counter-terrorism warfare had become necessary currently because more member states were now facing threats of terrorism.
She underscored the need for stakeholders to be more proactive with training in combating and dealing with terrorism.
“In this vein, ECOWAS, with the support of the KAIPTC, developed a two-week counter–terrorism course designed for ECOWAS standby force and personnel from member states,” she added.
She expressed happiness that the pilot course which came off in February 2016 was successful and called for more support for subsequent similar courses.
Security for international commandants
In his welcome address, the Commandant of the KAIPTC, Major General Obed Boamah Akwa, said that the annual meetings offered opportunities to, among others, further strengthen the collaboration and partnerships between the TCE and ECOWAS member states through information sharing.
" In the light of the increase in armed conflicts and the general insecurities across Africa and particularly our sub-region, our status, recognition and reputation as ECOWAS-designated TCEs is being assessed by all stakeholders and our citizens to gauge our overall institutional capacity, resilience and impact and we must live up to expectation," he said.
He also said the mutual commitment to the annual meetings and subsequent implementation of agreed actions and agreements demonstrated their contribution to building, keeping and securing the peace in the sub-region, particularly during the current challenging times.