The Northern Command of the Ghana Army has officially commenced the 2026 Basic Infantry Non-Commissioned Officers Tactical Course (BNTC) at the 12 Mechanised Battalion, Sandema. The opening ceremony held on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, marks the beginning of an intensive 18-week programme designed to train 81 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) to command and administer a rifle section in peace, war and counter-insurgency/counter terrorism operations.
The General Officer Commanding Northern Command, Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Franklyn Kwasi Worlanyo Agbebo, in his speech as the Guest of Honour described the participating Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) as the backbone of any professional military force serving as the vital link between high-level strategic command and the soldiers on the ground. He noted that the course was not a mere academic formality, but as a vital pillar of operational effectiveness for both the Northern Command and the wider Ghana Armed Forces.
Brig Gen Agbebo highlighted the unique challenges of the Northern Command, where personnel must navigate vast terrains, border corridors and a complex mix of urban and remote environments. Such a landscape, he argued demands junior leaders who are resolute in the face of adversity, tactically sound in their execution and decisive under pressure.
He noted that the course is not merely an academic exercise but operational training designed for the realities on the field. Brig Gen Agbebo urged participants to approach the course with utmost seriousness with a goal of fostering soldiers who communicate with clarity and lead by unwavering example.
The Commanding Officer, 12 Mechanised Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Frederick Amankwah in his remarks underscored the demanding nature of the course, noting that participants should expect an intense and physically taxing tenure.
He challenged students to apply themselves fully, asserting that their performance would serve as a pivotal milestone in their career progression within the Ghana Army. Lt Col Amankwah urged soldiers to prioritise teamwork and warned against undermining colleagues, noting that collective success in the field relies entirely on mutual trust and unified effort.
The Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Tactical Course is designed to be exhaustive, covering the full spectrum of modern conflict including counter-insurgency, conventional warfare, Internal security operations and counter-terrorism.
Present at the opening ceremony was the Command Operations Officer, Colonel John Yaw Kwarteng, Commanding Officer 11 Mechanised Battalion, Lt Col Isaac Kobby Boako and other key staff appointments at the Headquarters Northern Command.
The Ghana Army, is Ghana’s Land Warfare Component tracing its origins from the Gold Coast Constabulary Regiment (GCCR) in the then British Empire, evolving through the years to become the present-day Professional Ghana Army.
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