The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, accompanied by principal staff officers from Army Headquarters, visited the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) at Shai Hills on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
The visit was part of his operational and familiarization tour of all army units following his assumption of office. During the visit, the Commanding Officer of the school, Lieutenant Colonel Ambitious Nazar, briefed the delegation on the school’s administrative, operational, training, and logistical matters, and made relevant recommendations. The delegation also toured the school’s facilities and ongoing projects to conduct assessments.
At a durbar held at the school’s multipurpose hall, the COAS interacted with personnel of the school. He took the opportunity to express his sincere appreciation for the excellent work being carried out by both staff and trainees.
Acknowledging the challenges currently faced by the school, the COAS assured that collective efforts would be made to resolve these issues to prevent any negative impact on the quality of soldiers graduating from the institution.
Highlighting his deep passion for training, the COAS emphasized that the professional caliber of soldiers is fundamentally shaped by the quality of training they receive at military institutions. He underscored the critical role played by the Army Recruit Training School in this process.
Saluting the instructors and support staff, he stressed that professional soldiers cannot be produced without robust training institutions. “There is a pressing need to prioritize these institutions,” he said, “to ensure they deliver quality training that shapes trainees into highly professional soldiers.”
He further elaborated that the school’s mission aligns perfectly with his vision for the Ghana Army, ‘building a well-grounded force supported by modern technology, motivated by core military values, and backed by comprehensive welfare and motivation packages’. This, he explained, is essential for the Army to effectively project land power as part of the Ghana Armed Forces in defense of the nation.
The COAS reminded the instructors of the great responsibility they bear. “You are entrusted with teaching raw civilians the core military values that will transform them into soldiers. The training institution and its instructors are central to making the Ghana Army’s vision a reality. The Army will continue to rely on you to produce loyal, professional soldiers who uphold the Constitution.”
He urged instructors to continually update and refresh their understanding of core military values to effectively impart them to trainees, encouraging them to return to basics and embrace their roles wholeheartedly. He further assured them of the full backing of Army Headquarters and the Military High Command in providing the necessary support and funding.
Lieutenant Colonel Ambitious Nazar, Commanding Officer of ARTS, thanked the COAS and his entourage on behalf of the school for the visit and pledged continued diligence in fulfilling their mandate. As a gesture of appreciation, he presented a commemorative plaque to Major General Gbetanu.
