Ghana Army Soldier Killed in Blast During Counter-Terrorism Training Exercise

Ghana Army Soldier Killed in Blast During Counter-Terrorism Training Exercise

  • A Ghanaian soldier died after an explosion during a counter-terrorism training exercise in the Upper East Region
  • The army released the identity of the soldier who died in the incident during the closing ceremony of the operation
  • The Ghana Armed Forces concluded Exercise Storm Shield, aimed at enhancing troop readiness against terrorism

A soldier has died during a counter-terrorism training exercise in the Upper East Region after an explosion.

The incident was reported on May 20 at Binduri during an operation titled Exercise Storm Shield.

Ghana, army, armed, forces, soldier, killed, blast, explosion, training, exercise, upper east region, counter-terrorism
A soldier is the sole fatality of an explosion during a counter-terrorism training exercise in the Upper East Region. Credit: Ghana Armed Forces
Source: Facebook

Citi News reported that the deceased, identified as Private Adotey, a Physical Training Instructor with the 6 Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces, reportedly died while attempting to rescue fellow officers at the scene of the incident.

The Ghana Armed Forces has since concluded the 10-day Exercise Storm Shield, which was conducted across Bawku, Pusiga and Binduri to enhance troops’ preparedness in countering terrorism and violent extremism.

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The army has been sharing updates from the operation on Facebook.

The development was disclosed at the closing ceremony for the exercise held at the 11 Mechanised Battalion in Bazua by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu.

The exercise formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national security and equip personnel with the skills and mindset required to respond to emerging security threats.

Exercise Storm Shield 2026, a joint internal security and counter-insurgency field training exercise designed to equip troops with the requisite capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to terrorism and contemporary threats such as Violent Extremist Organisation (VEO) within the Northern Command Area of Responsibility, kicks off in earnest.

It conducted special operations in the Bawku General Area, among others, as part of the training.

Recent deaths of soldiers in Ghana

In April, a young soldier identified as Abdul-Rahman Suhuyini reportedly died following a tragic motorcycle crash on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

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He was reportedly stationed at the 10th Mechanised Battalion in Wa.

Tributes poured in via Facebook, suggesting that he played amateur football before enlisting in the armed forces, and was an old student of Yendi Senior High School.

Late in 2025, a military officer with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat died after his team’s vehicle was involved in an accident at Obuasi.

Four other soldiers are in a critical condition and have been referred to the Anglogold Obuasi Hospital for treatment.

A military officer, NAIMOS, National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, Road Crash, Galamsey
A military officer with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat dies after a road crash. Credit: Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
Source: Facebook

The Ministry of Lands, in a statement on Facebook, said the accident occurred while the team was heading to Obuasi after an operation at a concession in Anyankyerim.

Slain soldier laid to rest

In 2023, YEN.com.gh also reported that the soldier, Imoro Sherrif, who was fatally stabbed in Taifa, an Ashaiman neighbourhood, had been buried on March 23 in the cemetery at Burma Camp.

The 37 Military Hospital in Accra prepared the body for burial. Imoro had been attending a military course in Accra for three weeks, and every Friday, he would travel to Ashaiman to see his parents.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Head of Current Affairs and Politics Desk) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.