As part of his familiarization tour of all Army units, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, conducted an operational visit to the Jungle Warfare School (JWS) at Achiase in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, 27 May 2025.
During the visit, COAS, accompanied by principal staff officers from Army Headquarters, received a detailed briefing from the Commanding Officer (CO) of JWS, Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Cudjoe. The briefing provided first-hand information on the school’s training programs, operational activities, logistics, future projections and recommendations.
Following the briefing, the COAS and his team paid a courtesy call on the Queenmother of Achiase, Ohemaa Darkoah II, at the Achiase palace. Major General Gbetanu introduced himself and expressed gratitude for the community’s longstanding support in providing land for military training.
He encouraged continued peaceful cooperation and extended warm greetings from the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General William Agyapong. In keeping with tradition, the COAS presented gifts and a customized plaque to commemorate the visit.
As part of the day’s activities, the COAS held an all-ranks durbar at the Kwame Danso Multipurpose Hall. There, he expressed his passion for military training and appreciation for the excellent work carried out by both staff and instructors at JWS. He emphasized that the school serves as a model for his vision of building a professional army grounded in core military values, supported by modern technology, and backed by comprehensive welfare and motivation packages. He stressed that this vision begins at the training schools.
Major General Gbetanu highlighted that a soldier’s loyalty must be to the state. He stressed that to uphold soldiering standards, some policies would be reintroduced to maintain discipline and professionalism. He assured personnel of the Military High Command’s full support and urged all to give their best to achieve quality training. He emphasized that outstanding performance is crucial for career progression.
Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Cudjoe, on behalf of the school, thanked the COAS and his entourage for the visit. He pledged to embrace the vision of the COAS and remain committed to fulfilling the school’s mandate with excellence.
As a token of appreciation, Major General Gbetanu was presented with a traditional Ghanaian smock and a miniature tiger to honour his maiden visit to the school.
The visit concluded with students demonstrating combat readiness through various exercises at the school’s training areas, showcasing their skills and preparedness.
