Major General Oppong-Perprah (left) handing-over the UN Certification to Col. C.k. Dingane
The Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS), under the Army Training Command (ATRAC) has earned a United Nations (UN) Certificate of Recognition following a four-day-on-site assessment of the centre by officials of the global organization at Bundase.
The certificate was signed by the Under-Secretary General in charge of Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix on February 11, 2023.
Speaking at the presentation the Commander of the ATRAC Brig. Gen. Stephen Wose Adzikpo Kweku Parbey noted that after the positive assessment, APOTS is now one of the United Nations’ recognized institutions with the authority to train and form troops for peacekeeping duties worldwide.
The school now boasts of a state-of-the-art multipurpose auditorium, accommodation units, classrooms, and other significant structures to accommodate personnel from the sub-region as well as to house personnel for the school in the future.
The Commander (APOTS), Col. Clement Kojo Dingane, stated that before establishing the training centre in June 2021, military personnel earmarked for peace support operations were trained by the Directorate of Army Peacekeeping with the support of development partners.
However, with the increasing changes in the nature of contemporary PSOs, UN Troop Contributing Countries (TCC) were required to meet certain criteria and standards of training before insertion into any operational theatre.
“This led to the establishment of APOTS by the Chierf Of Army Staff Maj Gen Thomas Oppong Perprah, “he said.
Maj Gen Thomas Oppong Perprah in his remarks said the APOTS was established after he identified a structural gap in tactical training.
“ My task for the unit was to plan, organize and conduct training for all units and personnel earmarked for the development of international peace support operations assigned to the Ghana Army. I also had to undertake related activities involving allied and foreign military personnel”, he said.
According to him, APOTS has become an enviable institution and will soon begin training partnerships with sister countries.
Additionally, Maj Gen Oppong-Perprah indicated that the training centre will conduct short-duration courses and research in peace support operations including the development of reference materials which will lead to the establishment of a PSO library.
Maj Gen Oppong-Preprah also led the commissioning of three projects; the Bundase Spring water production site, the multipurpose social centre, and the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) aimed at bridging the infrastructural gap at the Army Peace Operations Training School.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke