Freetown, 4th September 2026- The Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Training, Doctrine and Education of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Brigadier General Kwame Francis Kanu, has urged deeper cooperation between the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and Sierra Leone in military training, professional development, and capacity building.
Brigadier General Kanu made a courtesy call on Ghana’s Chief of Army Staff, Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, at the Army Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026. The visit also served to express Sierra Leone’s appreciation for Ghana’s longstanding role in shaping the professional growth of Sierra Leonean military personnel.
Reflecting on his own career, Brigadier General Kanu recalled undergoing military training in Ghana 23 years ago, an experience he described as pivotal to his development. He praised Ghana’s continued support, noting that the partnership has significantly strengthened the professionalism of Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces.
The senior officer explained that Sierra Leone is working to expand its local training capacity by cultivating indigenous expertise. He emphasized the importance of enabling personnel who have received advanced training abroad to transfer their knowledge to others, thereby building a new generation of competent instructors equipped to address Sierra Leone’s unique security and developmental challenges.
Brigadier General Kanu also expressed interest in broadening cooperation into specialised areas such as commando training and special forces operations. He said such collaboration would provide Sierra Leonean personnel with critical skills and expertise needed to meet evolving security demands.
Responding to the proposal, Major General Gbetanu reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone through professional military education and training programmes. He highlighted Ghana’s history of providing opportunities for Sierra Leonean officers at all levels, from junior ranks to senior leadership. He assured Brigadier General Kanu that the request for advanced training in specialised fields would be given serious consideration.
Major General Gbetanu noted that the initiative would not only strengthen Sierra Leone’s training capacity but also deepen military‑to‑military relations between the two countries. He stressed that sustainable capacity building requires training a new cadre of instructors capable of passing on specialised knowledge to future generations of Sierra Leonean soldiers.
Under the proposed cooperation, Sierra Leonean personnel would undertake selected specialised training programmes in Ghana and later apply their acquired expertise to enhance training capabilities at home.
The collaboration forms part of ongoing efforts by both nations to consolidate their defence partnership, enhance professional military education, and build institutional capacity. It underscores the enduring bond between Ghana and Sierra Leone, forged through decades of shared commitment to regional peace and security.
Credit: Ghana Army
