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HISTOIRE A SUCCES

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:35:16 GMT

Nous avons récemment reçu les commentaires d’un de nos délégués ghanéens et fier ancien auditeur de trois formations au RTC. Il était enthousiaste à l’idée de partager avec la communauté des anciens auditeurs des informations sur la manière dont les techniques acquises pendant les formations lui ont permis, ainsi qu’à son département, de localiser et d’arrêter le criminel présumé responsable d’un important virement bancaire frauduleux. Nous vous souhaitons une agréable lecture de cette merveilleuse histoire à succès !

Je suis l’inspecteur Oduro. J’ai été recruté dans la police ghanéenne en 2006 et affecté au Département des enquêtes criminelles (CID) en 2007. J’ai exercé la fonction d’enquêteur au cours des dix (10) dernières années, principalement dans le domaine de la fraude conventionnelle pendant la majeure partie de ces dix (10) années.

L’Unité de lutte contre la cybercriminalité du siège du CID a été créée en octobre 2015. Elle a pour mission principale d’enquêter sur les affaires liées à la cybercriminalité et de procéder à des analyses scientifiques numériques sur des appareils et supports numériques. Dans le cadre de cette mission, nous devons nous tenir informés des crimes informatiques, de la façon d’enquêter sur ces crimes, ainsi que de la manière d’identifier les appareils numériques susceptibles de contenir des éléments de preuve sur ces crimes. Nous avons également pour mission de procéder à des analyses scientifiques numériques dans le but de recueillir des preuves numériques.

J’ai eu le privilège d’avoir été sélectionné en avril 2018 pour prendre part à la formation sur l’identification et la conservation des preuves numériques au RTC, au cours de laquelle j’ai appris comment identifier, saisir, transporter et conserver des preuves numériques. Cette formation fut une excellente expérience d’apprentissage, car j’ai mis à profit mes connaissances en recherche physique d’appareils numériques qui auraient pu être utilisés pour faciliter un acte criminel. Je suis retourné au RTC en juillet 2018 pour suivre la formation sur les enquêtes en matière de cybercriminalité cette même année. Cette phase de formation m’a permis de me familiariser avec l’utilisation des réseaux sociaux et les recherches sur le Web aux fins d’enquête. J’ai également acquis des connaissances sur la façon de mener des enquêtes en ligne à l’aide d’outils en libre accès.

Avant mon arrivée au RTC pour ces formations, j’ai participé à l’enquête sur une affaire impliquant des virements bancaires frauduleux à partir du compte d’une institution financière au Ghana. Cette affaire était en instance depuis décembre 2017, car mon équipe et moi-même avions du mal à identifier la/les personne(s) censée(s) avoir subtilisé environ six cent mille dollars EU à la suite d’un piratage.

Au terme de la deuxième formation, j’ai réexaminé cette affaire avec la certitude que j’étais désormais outillé pour retrouver le(s) suspect(s) grâce aux connaissances acquises au RTC. Lors d’une précédente analyse scientifique effectuée sur le réseau de l’institution financière, il est apparu qu’un e-mail publicitaire avait été ouvert sur un des ordinateurs du réseau et qu’un logiciel malveillant avait été téléchargé et installé sur cet ordinateur, permettant ainsi au suspect d’accéder à distance au réseau, ce qui lui a permis d’effectuer le virement de ces sommes.

Une analyse plus poussée a révélé qu’il y avait un numéro de téléphone associé à cet e-mail publicitaire. Grâce aux connaissances acquises au RTC, j’ai envoyé le numéro de téléphone au réseau de télécommunications par l’entremise d’une ordonnance du tribunal et j’ai obtenu des renseignements sur l’abonné, y compris le numéro IMEI (Identité internationale d’équipement mobile) de l’appareil qui portait ce numéro de téléphone particulier.

Ayant obtenu le numéro (IMEI), j’ai utilisé un outil en ligne pour identifier la marque et le modèle du téléphone mobile. Les renseignements sur l’abonné ont également fourni à mon équipe et à moi-même une piste quant à l’identité de notre suspect. Grâce à cette méthode, nous avons pu identifier le suspect et l’avons appréhendé. Une perquisition a été effectuée à son domicile où nous avons retrouvé l’appareil mobile portant le numéro IMEI identifié et l’avons soumis à un examen scientifique. Les résultats ont permis de dévoiler le code d’accès unique que les fournisseurs de services d’e-mails publicitaires envoient par SMS pour confirmer un compte e-mail. Le suspect a été inculpé et traduit en justice.

J’ai le privilège de participer à la phase finale de la formation en criminalistique numérique qui s’est soldée par un exercice de simulation devant un tribunal, me permettant ainsi d’avoir une démonstration pratique de la façon de présenter une preuve numérique devant le tribunal en qualité d’examinateur en informatique judiciaire.

Je tiens tout particulièrement à exprimer ma reconnaissance aux instructeurs du FBI pour avoir mené à bien l’ensemble des trois phases de cette formation grâce à leur expérience et leur expertise uniques. Félicitations au Directeur du RTC et au personnel qui ont apporté leur soutien à ce projet de formation. Au nom de mes collègues et en mon nom propre, nous leur disons « bravo ».

Intéressant, n’est-ce pas ? Si vous souhaitez nous faire part de votre histoire à succès, veuillez nous envoyer un courriel à l’adresse info@westafricartc.org. Nous aimerions avoir de vos nouvelles.

RTC BUZZ

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 11:43:21 GMT

In the month of July, the RTC successfully ran three Ghana–specific training deliveries, centered on financial crimes, digital evidence and cyber related investigations. This training enhanced collaboration between the judges, prosecutors and investigators who participated. Ghana’s Deputy Commissioner of Police – Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah delivered the keynote address during the course opening. She stressed on the need for officers to appreciate the expectation of the bench so that evidence gathering meets the standard expected for effective prosecution. It was an interesting class with course instruction delivered by a wide variety of local and international subject matter experts on cybercrime with particular reference to financial crimes. Discussions centered on money laundering cases and the tools needed to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. We were honored to have a retired Supreme Court Justice and Senior Lecturer of the Ghana School of Law – Justice Brobbey share his expertise on the relevant laws and rules governing evidence in financial crimes. The course concluded on Thursday with a lively practical exercise where participants were required to apply lessons learned during lectures to case fact scenarios.

Our second course was not our usual 5-day program, but rather was a one-day workshop for justices from the supreme and appellate courts of Ghana. Ghana’s Chief Justice –Sophia Akuffo opened the course, encouraging the judiciary to take advantage of the opportunity to help fortify Ghana’s criminal justice system. The Director of the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Criminal Investigative Division (CID) delved deeply into the rudiments of the international and regional framework of Cybercrime particularly banking crimes in West Africa. Mr. Ainsworth from the U.S. Department of Justice was very instrumental in leading discussions on money laundering cases and shared best practices from a global perspective. Participants meaningfully contributed by contextualizing the examples to relate to local cases. The Resident Legal Advisor at the US embassy led a discussion on exploring solutions to the procedural issues related to the use of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings. The class ended with a pleasant networking dinner reception

Finally, we hosted the FBI for the second phase of the cyber investigative techniques training. The class was made up of the same group of participants who attended the cyber phase 1 training earlier this year. We were privileged to have Ambassador Jackson address the class during the course opening. In his remarks, he indicated how cyber criminals have become more sophisticated and coordinated internationally. He encouraged Law Enforcement officers to be forward thinkers in order to be able to effectively apprehend cyber criminals. The instructors utilized intensive hands-on practical applications and classroom instructions in providing participants with a broader understanding of the tools and techniques needed to investigate cybercrime cases. Participants expressed how this approach enhanced their knowledge and met their expectations. They looked forward to attending the final phase of this training series, which will include a moot court session.

Stay tuned for more updates in our next newsletter.

INTERNATIONAL BORDER SECURITY- EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 11:26:22 GMT

We would like to appreciate all RTC alumni who submit content to our newsletter on relevant law enforcement topics. This month we are happy to share an article on Effective Strategies for Border Management submitted by Mr. Cates – a retired special agent from the US Department of Homeland Security/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (DHS /ICE). Mr. Cates is no stranger to the RTC. He delivered multiple trainings at the RTC on Office of Professional Responsibility between 2011 and 2015. We hope you enjoy this read and please write back to share your views and questions.

One of the most critical and troublesome tasks in national defense and law enforcement is implementing an effective, humane and efficient system of international border security. In the United States, border security is a very high priority and a politically sensitive issue. Efficiency and effectiveness enhance successful border security but what national strategies are truly effective in shaping and directing Border Enforcement Operations that support modern border control objective? After over 35 years of working in and around challenging border control environments, I have observed and concluded that a Four Pronged-Layered Border Enforcement and Security Strategy provides the backdrop and sets the conditions for successful border operations, efficient international travel and effective commodity controls in cross-border control actions. These are summarized as:

Physical Barriers– Infrastructure such as walls, fences, access control systems at International Port of Entries are a critical component of successful border enforcement operations. They define the areas of actual national control, of approved ingress and egress and they serve as a formidable visual, physical and psychological deterrent to illegal border crossers or hostile border nations. Physical barriers work but require supplemental systems and actions to maximize their potential.
Border Officers and Presence Patrols– The actions, presence and functions of an active patrolling/inspection force are a critical component to capable and effective border enforcement and control. Not only do Border Enforcement Officers demonstrate the affirmative intent of a nation to control and secure its national boundaries but the presence of officers insures the integrity of an integrated, overall border control plan. “Boots on the Ground” demonstrate the level of commitment to security held by a nation, they provide both security and reactive assistance in any issue-hostile, unintentional or innocent that may challenge border security and they provide “real time” actionable information and intelligence to higher authorities supporting quality decision-making on the part of national leaders. Border officers at approved Ports of Entry also provide an expertise that supports not only contraband control and anti-immigration fraud detection programs but also supports the revenue collection functions as established by national law and policy.
Emplacement and Utilization of Technology– The use of available technology in a layered border enforcement strategy is another critical component in an overall successful international border security program. Technology such as; seismic, acoustic, infrared, X-ray or Radar systems as well as density/metallic sensing equipment, high resolution cameras and manned/unmanned aerial surveillance platforms act as a force multiplier for the above captioned Presence Patrol and Inspection Operations. These border technology systems, while expensive, enhance both efficiency and effectiveness of all border control efforts. Technology requires investment, training and maintenance but when coupled with active Human or Cargo Inspection and Presence Patrolling/Response capabilities, it will pay true dividends in raising border security.
Investigative and Intelligence Operations-This fourth component of an overarching Border Control Strategy serves both as a deterrent to border incursions and violations and functions as a guide and planning tool for Border Operations leadership and force management. The detection, response and apprehension of border violators in a law enforcement dominate environment MUST be complimented by high quality follow-up investigative and prosecutorial actions. Simply catching and incarcerating or immediate deportation of violators of border laws does very little to disrupt and preclude organized border violators or criminal organizations involved in recurring unlawful cross-border activities. The efforts of specialized Border Enforcement Investigators and Prosecutors allows for an “Attack the Network” effort, similar to programs that target domestic narcotics traffickers or illicit financial operations. Disrupting and dismantling organized criminal international smuggling organizations not only deters and suppresses subsequent border violations by other parties, it supports and feeds a focused intelligence effort to identify and understand smuggling trends, cross-border incursion patterns and motivations. It also provides critical support to Border Operations Leadership’s ability to be predictive so as to better plan for and position available border security assets to stretch the always limited resources of Border Security Operations.

In summary, National Border Security and Cross-Border Control is critical to a nation’s sovereignty and its national security. Clearly in some locations and situations border issues may become so volatile as to be a military challenge. But even then, an effective and capable law enforcement Border Control organization can be highly complementary in these non-permissive environments. Largely however, effective border control is a critical law enforcement function requiring planning, specialized skill and experience and a commitment to effective yet humane international border security operations. Border enforcers must always balance the needs of trade, international travel, business activity and social interaction with the demands and requirements of safety, security and national boundary integrity. The employment of a strategic vision based on the four key components detailed above; Physical Barriers, Inspections and Presence Patrolling, Technology Employment and lastly, Investigative/Prosecutorial/Intelligence Operations will form a core foundation on which any nation can build an efficient and effective Border Control Strategy and Enforcement Plan.

Interesting isn’t it? Got any questions or feedback? Please share your thoughts with us and we’ll be happy to pass them along to Mr. Cates.

June 2018

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:37:43 GMT

Participants at a briefing session prior to a practical exercise on walking formation

Last month was a fairly busy month for us at the RTC. We hosted subject matter experts from the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for an Overseas Protective Operations Training. During the course introductions, participants shared their experiences and challenges in protective detail from their respective countries. This allowed the instructor team to structure the course delivery to meet the training needs of the class. It was a great learning experience with majority of the course centered on practical exercises followed by classroom presentations. Participants were introduced to the various techniques used by the DSS special agents to protect dignitaries including advance planning and walking formations. They were particularly exposed to the techniques used in providing protection during fence line operations and attacks on a VIP. Instructors stressed on the importance of an advanced team securing a location prior to the arrival of a VIP. Participants also enjoyed the Q&A sessions, following the defensive tactic videos. It was an awesome class, made up of very lively participants from Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.

Lady Justice Sophia Adinyira encouraging participants to keep a sense of integrity

We continued our training cycle with two Ghanaian specific courses on judicial professional development. The first one was an intense 3 - day program on updates in the law concerning bail, criminal appeals and practical advice on conducting extradition hearings. Participants were made up of judges, state attorneys and police officers. Lady Justice Sophia Adinyira graced the course opening and encouraged participants to maintain a high sense of integrity in their deliveries, to ensure the efficient operation of the criminal justice sector. The training provided the platform for discussions on the laws governing the treatment of prisoners and the excessive bail denials with practical case examples of situations that should warrant bail. The training also touched on judicial ethics and how to handle digital evidence. Indeed, it was a highly successful training and the judges pressed for follow-up courses in the future.

The Director of Administration and Finance of the Ghana Prisons Service addressing participants during the course opening session

The second was a 2-day training for prison officers, paralegals and lawyers. There were seasoned speakers made up of the U.S. Embassy Resident Legal Advisor –Maureen Bessette, Appellate Court Justice- Sir Dennis Adjei, Human Rights Attorney- Martin Kpebu and Director of Perfector of Sentiments Foundation (POS) - Jonathan Osei. In his opening remarks, the Director in charge of the Administration and Finance of the Ghana Prisons Service - Stephen Coffie stressed on the importance of paralegal work to the prisons service particularly assisting remands whose trial may be unnecessarily delayed. He admonished participants to train other officers and inmates based on the knowledge acquired at the workshop. The class was very engaging as participants discussed human right violations and the state of overcrowded prisons in Ghana. They familiarized themselves with the laws governing expired warrants, pretrial and post-trial matters. Participants were assigned to work in groups through case fact scenarios in order to apply the knowledge they had acquired during the workshop.

The DEA lead instructor addressing the class during the course opening session

We commenced the month of June with a one-week training on Advanced Narcotics Investigations for 40 mid to senior level officers representing Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal. It was great to welcome back Marie and Cheron from DEA who had previously delivered similar courses at the RTC. Building on their valuable experience, they provided a lot of expertise in the area of informant handling and International controlled delivery. The professional team of instructors did excellently well in breaking down the course modules into very useful and applicable examples participants could identify with. Course instruction throughout the week was very informative involving interactive sessions and country led presentations centered on operational planning. It was also interesting to learn about the various investigative techniques needed to conduct drug related operations. In fact, participants were so enthused about the course that it was always a challenge ending in-class discussions due to time restrictions.

Stay tuned for more updates on our alumni network in our next newsletter. Please follow us on Facebook for more updates on the RTC.

May 2018

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:40:41 GMT

Class introductions session - Wildlife Course - April 2018

The month of April was a busy one for the RTC, with training programs, bringing together participants from West Africa and different US law enforcement agencies.

We started the month with a Wildlife Border Inspections training, with participants from Togo, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria. It was an interesting training week, led by an exceptional team of instructors from the US Customs and Border Protection Agency and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The instructor team led spirited discussions on wildlife smuggling, fusing lecture styled teaching with hands-on practical lessons on interdiction and methods of concealment. The participants were very appreciative of the new knowledge acquired especially on Wildlife smuggling, with some participants posing questions on evidence collection and preservation, with wildlife cases. Participants also appreciated the detailed instruction from the CBP team on methods of concealment, which are also applicable in most smuggling cases. The course was successful and participants thanked the instructor team for the new knowledge and skills acquired.

We continued our training cycle with a Leadership for Law Enforcement Supervisors course, with participants from Cabo Verde, Ghana, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone. Fun fact about this class- during introductions, we realized that the class had a total of 927 years of law enforcement experience in the room! How impressive! This class was very interactive and thought provoking, led by a two-man instructor team from the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). The instructor team did a fantastic job of explaining leadership concepts with clear examples of good leadership skills. Participants took two different personality assessments, which helped highlight their individual values and motivators. One participant from Guinea Bissau surprised all of us with his expert dance moves during the Thursday evening social! We’re hopeful that participants will apply the new knowledge acquired, to improve upon law enforcement leadership within their various agencies.

The FBI team that led discussions during the basic digital evidence course -April 2018

The month could not end without a course from the FBI! We also hosted a Basic Digital Evidence Identification and Preservation Training, with participants from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria. As always, the FBI team delivered high quality material fused with cool demonstrations of technological methods, which enhance evidence gathering and preservation. This course is the first installment of a three-part course series; the same participants will return in a few weeks for an advanced cybercrime investigations course.

The RTC also hosted a high-level DEA operational meeting, which was attended by senior DEA officials from DEA headquarters and from regional country offices. The Chief of Operations of DEA, who chaired the meeting, briefly addressed the participants from the Leadership class, describing the critical role of leadership within a large agency such as the DEA. Having previously hosted several DEA-led trainings, the RTC hopes to continue leveraging our unique niche in the region, collaborating with both local, and international agencies, to bring the best training opportunities to West Africa.

We welcome all our participants from the month of April, into our Alumni network and we look forward to hearing from you soon! Do stay in touch with the RTC (info@westafricartc.org) and also via IGN.

The INL Director Visits the RTC

Thu, 17 May 2018 17:37:07 GMT

This month, the RTC was privileged to host the Office Director from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Anti-crime Program Office in Washington DC – Ms. Snyder. She was accompanied by Mr. Felker also from the INL Wildlife Trafficking Team. The purpose of their visit was to engage with US Government and Ghanaian stakeholders of the RTC program. This was their first visit to the RTC and we had the opportunity to brief them on the RTC operations and procedures.

The RTC director led the tour of the facility highlighting the unique nature of the RTC as an enabling environment where officers train alongside regional and international counterparts on important issues related to Transnational Organized Crime. He emphasized the key role played by the RTC in INL’s strategic training program designed to focus on specific challenges and criminal trends faced by the West African law enforcement community.

Ms. Snyder in a group photo with local staff at the RTC

Ms. Snyder spoke highly of the RTC facility and commended the team for their effort in successfully relocating the RTC to a larger facility. She was particularly intrigued by the neat artwork and display of colors especially at the reception and in the breakout rooms. She also engaged the local staff in informal conversations about their roles at the RTC.

Overall, Ms Snyder was highly impressed by CTP’s staff enthusiasm about their work. She indicated that the RTC could serve as a model for future enhanced changes at other ILEA facilities.

At the end of the tour, she thanked the RTC Director and staff for their time and hoped to visit again in the coming months.

April 2018

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:49:29 GMT

In the month of March, the RTC hosted a judicial professional development workshop from March 27 to 28, 2018. The two-day collaborative workshop included judges, prosecutors and investigators from the Judicial Service of Ghana, the Financial Intelligence Center, the Economic and Organized Crime Office and the Ghana Police Service. The integrated instructor team comprised of subject matter experts from the Attorney General’s Department of Ghana, the Criminal Investigations Department and Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, the U.S Department of Justice-Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These experts presented different topics related to emerging financial crimes and digital evidence. Bringing both local and US expertise into the classroom made for a stronger training session as best practices in the two countries was shared.

Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo addressing participants during the opening

The opening ceremony commenced with remarks by Mr. Robert P. Jackson, the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, who emphasized ongoing cybercrimes especially romance scams across the world. He also affirmed the U.S government’s commitment to partnering with Ghana to combat crime and urged the law enforcement officers present to tackle cybercrimes with available information and technological resources. His remarks were followed by a keynote address from Ghana’s Chief Justice- Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo, who provided background context on Ghana’s efforts to combat cybercrimes and concluded with an appreciation of the U.S Government’s support. Also in attendance was the Director of the RTC, the Head of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Ghana Police Service, the Heads of Ghana’s Financial Intelligence Center and Economic and Organized Crime Office, Resident Legal Advisor at the U.S Embassy, Accra and the FBI Legat. The presence of these dignitaries at the opening ceremony emphasized the collaboration between the Ghanaian law enforcement communities, which was also reflected through the participants’ interactions throughout the workshop.

Participants presenting their findings during a Moot Court session

Although the workshop lasted for only two days, there was an appropriate combination of lectures, discussions, group and practical exercises. The first day of the workshop provided an examination of financial crimes and money laundering in West Africa. The facilitators presented recent cases of spear phishing, mobile money fraud and other cybercrimes in Ghana. The responses and contributions of the participants during the discussions were impressive. On the second day, lectures and discussions focused on digital evidence collection, storage and admission in court. The workshop culminated in a Moot Court where participants presented their findings on a “Wakanda” case study. The multi-purpose RTC auditorium served as an ideal location for this very dynamic session in which participants demonstrated their knowledge acquired in financial crimes and digital evidence.

While expressing their appreciation for the course, participants promised to ensure that the knowledge gained proved beneficial not only to the law enforcement community but to every Ghanaian.

Throughout the two-day delivery, the RTC staff performed efficiently, to ensure that participants and facilitators gained the maximum benefits from the workshop and looked forward to another opportunity to train at the Center.

We are committed to facilitating more high-level workshops and trainings on emerging criminal trends to build stronger networks of professionals and experts, capable of dealing with organized crime within the West African region.

Be sure to stay connected with the RTC- Follow us on Facebook and keep in touch via info@westafricartc.org for updates on our alumni outreach program. We love hearing from you!

March 2018

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:52:50 GMT

Only three months into the new year and there is already a lot of exciting things happening at the RTC. At the end of February we hosted two instructors from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who delivered a Trafficking in Persons course for law enforcement officers from nine different countries in the region. In his opening remark, the RTC Director encouraged participants to make new contacts to foster communication and to use it as a great tool to combat transnational organized crime.

Trafficking in Persons Course - Feb 2018

The class was made up of very lively participants from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin. There was a lot of knowledge sharing and a deep sense of appreciation for the instructors and for each other. The diverse backgrounds of the participants served as a useful tool in sharing experiences and best practices across agencies. The participants indicated that have long wanted a platform that will bring together officers from across the region to establish a network to improve upon inter agency collaboration.

As part of our efforts to better handle emergency situations at the RTC, The RTC staff underwent a fire emergency training in the first week of March. The training covered topics like the components and classes of fire, evacuation procedures, safety precaution, fire prevention methods and various firefighting methods. It was a fruitful training that has broadened our knowledge and enhanced our capacity as a team to handle fire emergencies while professional fire fighters are on their way.

RTC Staff during the fire fighting exercise organised by representatives from Ghana Fire Service

Demonstration of how to use a fire extinguisher

RTC staff exhibiting her fire fighting skills

Fire Instructor guiding RTC Staff on how to use a fire extinguisher

Stay tuned for further updates on our alumni network outreach program!

February 2018

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:02:57 GMT

The RTC kick started the 2018 training year with a delivery from INL’s Africa and Middle East Bureau (INL/AME) on Policing Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence. This course was a Ghana-specific training for participants from the Ghana Police Service. In his opening remarks, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, challenged officers to make use of available resources to equip themselves with requisite policing skills on domestic violence. Read more about the ambassador’s speech here: https://gh.usembassy.gov/amb-jacksons-remarks-opening-training-policing-domestic-violence-gender-based-violence/. Working with a number of partners, representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Ghana’s Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) shared their vision of ensuring a violence free society in which all social groups, specifically the most vulnerable ones enjoy equal rights and opportunity to reach their full potential as individuals and citizens. There was so much to learn from the consultants and local instructors who combined frontline experience as advocates and police officers to illustrate to participants the challenges associated with domestic violence cases and the best methods used to conduct victim interviews. Participants were exposed to the realities of violence committed against women and children and the dangers to those who provide services to the victim/survivor. The DOVVSU Coordinating Director, while addressing the officers during the course closing ceremony, urged participants to explore innovative ways to create community relationships and commitments needed to make effective change in our response to domestic & sexual violence. She challenged officers to work together towards creating a positive, cooperative, and trusting relationship between advocacy organizations and law enforcement. It was a very interesting workshop and we look forward to more training programs from INL/AME. See photos from the training below!

High level guests present during the opening of the Domestic Violence Training January 2018

Ambassador Jackson during the Domestic Violence Training January - 2018

Cross-section of the class during the domestic violence training . January 2018

In the month of February, the RTC hosted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a cyber-crime investigations training that brought together participants from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali. Participants went through the history and inter-working of the internet, as well as investigative tools and techniques needed to assist in their investigations, especially when combating violent extremism. There were a lot of hands-on practical exercises and at the end of the course, participants departed having gained knowledge needed to enhance future investigations. Few comments we received at the end of the course are:

The RTC Facility is a world-class training facility with an excellent standard - Participant from Nigeria

The lectures are good and the Instructors teach very well. I am grateful to the U.S. Department of State for organizing this training because I have gained a lot of knowledge in the Cyber crime Investigation field - Participant from Sierra Leone

A very educative and enlightening institution helping in human capacity development - Participant from Sierra Leone

The West Africa Training Center is very resourceful with well-trained experts and experienced facilitators - Participant from Ghana

The Facility is one of the best among other training facilities I have been. It meets international standards - Participant from Senegal

Let’s look at a few pictures from the training.

FBI Legal attache present during the cyber crime course . February 2018

Cybercrime participants during the IGN registration

RTC delegate coordinator during the alumni network presentation. February 2018

2018 Training Forecast

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:20:26 GMT

Getting ready for more training deliveries in 2018

Courses

The year 2018 looks very promising with tailor-made courses that respond to the critical needs of law enforcement officers in Africa. These courses have been carefully designed to equip participants with the needed skills in the fight against growing criminal trends on the continent.

Some of the courses we’ve lined up for the coming year are centered on Trafficking in Persons, Crime Scene Investigation/Sex Crimes, Executive Leadership, Wildlife Inspection Training, Cybercrime Investigations and International Seaport Investigation.

Alumni Outreach Strategies

Currently, the RTC uses social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp) and the RTC website to interact with its alumni community. We also engage alumni through emails via info@westafricartc.org , in-person interviews, phone calls, and the monthly newsletter. Our monthly newsletter is an outreach tool, used to provide updates on the RTC and to feature prominent alumni who are successfully utilizing the knowledge and skills gained at the RTC, in their daily jobs. We encourage all alumni to share their experiences, knowledge and successes with the RTC community via the monthly newsletter.

In 2018, the RTC intends to enrich it's newsletter content with expert interview on specific law enforcement topics, best practices and peer engagement, instructional videos and photos on some basic law enforcement techniques. We ask that you provide timely feedback on our outreach efforts, to help us make constant improvements on our programs.

Surveys

In order to meet the needs of law enforcement and criminal justice professionals in the region, the RTC is launching the 2017 Alumni Survey for all participants who took part in our trainings in 2017. We urge all participants to closely monitor your emails and be responsive to the survey. This is very important to us as it helps shape our course deliveries for the subsequent years.

Alumni Reunion

Breakout session: a platform for participants to share ideas

To achieve our goal of establishing better networking opportunities and regional partnerships, the RTC plans to host its first Regional Alumni Event in Benin. The alumni event will create the needed platform for knowledge sharing and also improve interagency collaboration amongst participating law enforcement entities.

Stay tuned for more updates about this upcoming event. For further inquires or comments, please send us an email at info@westafricartc.org and we’ll be happy to assist.

Happy Holidays!!

2017: The Year in Review

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:13:05 GMT

The year 2017 has been a remarkable training year at the RTC. Looking back on the training year, we feel a great sense of achievement and it is evident that the RTC plays a key role in fulfilling INL’s goal of establishing strategic U.S partnerships and diplomatic engagements in Africa. Let’s take a ride on the 2017 training train!

Some participants and Instructors in a group photo at the end of the Anti-Human Trafficking course in January

The training year commenced with a successful pilot course- Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)- Threat Finance. The instructor team led the class in critical thinking discussions on emerging terrorist trends and effective ways of investigating terrorist financing. In the same month, we delivered an Anti-Human Trafficking Course to participants from the Ghana Police and Immigration services. The first quarter of the year ended with the FBI team who delivered a CVE course with Focus on Anti-Corruption. It was exciting to witness the depth of knowledge that was shared through the interactive classroom discussions and country led presentations on public corruption cases.

Though there were no trainings held in March, this did not slow down the RTC team. During this period, we transitioned into a new ultra-modern facility, which allowed us to hold multiple training deliveries simultaneously. To celebrate the relocation, the RTC held an open house ceremony in April. In attendance was the US Ambassador to Ghana - Ambassador Jackson and the Minister of Interior – Honorable Ambrose Dery.

Participants at a briefing at the Cargo Village inside the Kotoka International International Airport during the Air Cargo Interdiction Training in May

The flurry of trainings picked up between April and June, starting with the Basic Law Enforcement course, which stressed the need for participants to be proactive investigators. Each year, we look forward to hosting the U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the Air Cargo/Land Border Interdiction Training. The CBP instructors carried out a highly successful practical exercise at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport aimed at enhancing knowledge on customs, passenger and drug interdiction operations.

It was great hosting the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for a 3-day judicial workshop on how to adjudicate child trafficking cases in Ghana. This highly interactive workshop brought together circuit and high court judges from various regions in Ghana to discuss best practices needed to judge trafficking cases. This delivery was followed by a 2-day workshop on Case Management Systems for the Ghana Police and Prisons Services. The workshop addressed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) needed to strengthen the criminal Justice sector.

The month of July and August came with very little activity. Though trainings held were mainly investigative courses, the RTC through the INL/AME program also facilitated dialogues and workshops that drive progress in upper levels of Ghana’s security and justice Institutions. These workshops have been critical in advancing the Security Governance Initiative partnership between the Government of Ghana and the Unites States Government.

The RTC team delivered a sterling performance, coordinating four training deliveries in September. We then directed our energy towards the Community Oriented Policing course series in October. This two week course focused on how community policing efforts can be used as a strategy to counter violent extremism.

RTC Program Director with the heads of delegation from participating countries (From left: Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire)

Finally, the training marathon ended in December with a leadership course for women in Law Enforcement focusing on creating a positive and motivating working environment for women in leadership positions.

Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming courses!!

RTC Program Progress

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:34:13 GMT

The RTC program keeps expanding. We’ve had a series of courses in the past month, with a focus on combatting criminal activities from diverse perspectives. We began the training marathon with the Fisheries Enforcement and Prosecution course, delivered by experts from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The engaging course focused on how to protect fishes and prevent illegal fishing activities in various countries along the Gulf of Guinea.

We then directed our energy towards a group of Ghanaian officers who participated in training on Preventing Attacks on Soft Targets. This two-week course led participants through identifying potential vulnerabilities and threats in places that could be targets for terrorist attacks and provided recommendations on mitigating these threats.

We shifted our focus back to maritime issues with a Port Security Training, which provided students with the knowledge and skills required to tacitly respond to and address a variety of potential threats at our various ports. The class embarked on a highly successful practical exercise at the Tema Port, where they conducted an in depth security review of the port. Finally, our trainings for the month of September ended successfully with interactive courses on how to identify and investigate various methods of money laundering. Let’s take a ride on the RTC September gallery!

Graduation Ceremony for the Soft Target Class

RTC Director congratulating the Instructor Team for the Soft Target class

Soft Target course opening ceremony with one of CTP’s Program Managers

Breakout sessions

RTC staff assisting students with the IGN registration

October 2017

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:25:43 GMT

This month’s newsletter is dedicated to all police officers who risk their lives every day in the line of duty, for the safety and protection of communities. The recent mass shooting in Las Vegas and the massive bomb attack in Somalia, remind us of the importance of the work of law enforcement in dealing with such life-threatening situations. Our hearts go out to everyone involved in two of the worst mass shooting and bomb attacks in recent memory. The RTC continues to offer its support to the implementation of training programs geared towards dealing with such crimes. Our courses are designed for the sharing of best practices in order to prevent, protect and contain threats of this nature.

It was a great honor to host certified instructors from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department during our recent CVE course. They expertly shared their knowledge and experience on how to adopt and implement the concept of community policing. The 38 police officers, who benefited from the training, were drawn from various agencies under police units representing Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Botswana.

The RTC Director opened the CVE course by highlighting an important lesson that could be drawn from high level criminal and terrorist activity that constantly occur in our world today. He reflected on the need for law enforcement officers to share intelligence and collaborate towards the creation of a better network that can combat complex criminal activity. He encouraged participants to develop the habit of reporting any suspicious activity that could potentially threaten the lives of individuals within the society. He emphasized the adoption of the “see something, say something” concept as being critical to policing.

The CVE instructors set a friend tone during the course introductions and participants familiarized themselves with each other and set expectations for the entire week of training. The course sessions continued with high classroom participation and interactive dialogue among the officers on how to adopt the concept of community policing within their specific contexts. Participants were made to understand that people are the police departments’ most valuable resource and should be treated as valued partners in the police process to counter terrorism. Participants were mainly engaged in addressing practical organizational implementation strategies, on how community policing efforts can be used as a strategy to counter violent extremism. At the end of the training participants had identified opportunities for collaborative partnerships between police and communities that they intend to implement within their organizations.

Have you taken part in any of our Countering Violent Extremism course series? Please share your experience with us by writing to info@westafricartc.org and we’ll get the conversation going!

July 2017

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:38:36 GMT

This month the RTC received a special visit from Mr. Parsons - the Program Officer for the West Africa Team (INL/AME). He was accompanied by Miss Wallace from the US Embassy Accra. It was an honor to take them on a tour of the new RTC facility. They had high impressions of the new facility. It was great to host you and we do hope you will visit us some more!! Visiting the RTC from INL Cotonou is the Senior Criminal Justice Advisor- Miss Harden. We are happy that you are helping out at the RTC!

Stay tuned for the highlights of the Countering Violent Extremism Focused Anti-corruption course in our next newsletter. In the meantime, get interactive with us on Facebook as we discuss the various types of corruption and how it affects our communities. Your views and comments are highly appreciated.

Officials present during the opening ceremony of the Trafficking in persons Training

If you missed the opening of the Adjudicating Child Trafficking training delivered at the RTC, here is a link to follow to watch the highlight of the speech delivered by Ambassador Jackson- US Ambassador to Ghana during the opening ceremony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlMRewr0q-g . It was great to host the International Organization for Migration for a 3 day judicial workshop on how to adjudicate child trafficking cases in Ghana. This highly interactive workshop brought together circuit and high court judges from various regions in Ghana to discuss best practices needed to judge trafficking cases. We were privileged to welcome back to Ghana Jane from AEquitas who facilitated the delivery of the course. Jane is no stranger to the RTC. She delivered a similar course on trafficking in persons last year at the RTC. She applied her experience in the federal prosecution of human trafficking cases to lead discussions about the legal and practical aspects of managing trials, and reaching a fair verdict. Participants had frank discussions about the challenges they face as judges, and shared strategies for managing dockets and reducing delays. The RTC greatly supports IOM’s mandate of implementing projects and programs that support the fight against Human Trafficking in Ghana. We implore all judges and law enforcement agencies to coordinate efficiently to help bring traffickers to Justice.

Cross section of RTC participants during the Anti corruption training

The RTC in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme successfully hosted a 2 day workshop on Case Management Systems Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Ghana Police and Prisons Services. The workshop addressed the standard operating procedures needed to strengthen the entire criminal Justice sector chain in order to enhance efficiency. It was particularly aimed at guiding police and prison officers on how to properly manage cases and define the workflow processes in order to achieve maximum success. The courses were highly interactive. Police officers identified key areas for administrative efficiency, and institutional collaboration opportunities to improve the linkages across multiple agencies in processing cases. Teaching style was mainly class presentations, dialogue and breakout sessions. Participants from Ghana Prisons service enhanced their knowledge on human rights in the context of prisons custody. They also identified the right procedures for safe custody of prisoners.

Stay tuned for more interesting stories from our alumni network.

June 2017

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:46:23 GMT

HAPPENING AT THE RTC

It’s always a pleasure to welcome new delegates and trainers to the RTC. After a successful transition into a new facility, the RTC successfully hosted three successive trainings which brought together professional instructor teams from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the U.S Customs and Border Protection. Let’s take a look at the highlights of the courses.

FBI Instructors leading participants in a fruitful discussion during the Basic Law Enforcement Techniques in April

The first course was the Basic Law Enforcement Techniques course which was well-executed by the FBI team of instructors led by Scott. They used classroom presentations, discussions and case studies in the delivery of this course. Class sessions were highly interactive and participants were very responsive throughout the entire training week. On Friday, as participants said their final goodbyes during the graduation ceremony, Scott motivated participants to continue in the successes that they have pursued in their law enforcement careers. He reminded all participants that in order to achieve this success, they need to work together to improve our societies. He stressed the need for participants to be proactive investigators, making use of all the acquired skills, techniques and mechanisms for disrupting the activities of criminal organizations.

A cross-section of participants during day one of International Air Cargo Interdiction Training

It was exciting to welcome Tony and Dave from CBP back to the RTC. They have previously facilitated the Airport Interdiction courses at the RTC. This time around, they were joined by Michael to coordinate this year’s Air Cargo Interdiction training. It was great working with you all! The class carried out a highly successful practical exercise at the Kotoka International Airport aimed at enhancing airport enforcement knowledge on customs, passenger and drug interdiction operations. The participants visited the Cargo village where they observed cargo operations and identified suspicious cargo. They also conducted an aircraft cabin and cargo hold search where they identified suspicious individuals and cargo for potential customs examination. The highlight of the exercise was the interdiction of a role player at the arrival tunnel of the airport.

David (Middle) in a group photo with participants after a practical exercise

The Land Border Interdiction course equipped participants with techniques on border passenger assessment and current information on how to process individuals at land borders. Dave led the team of instructors who led useful discussions on border patrol field interviewing techniques and document analysis. Participants also enjoyed a thrilling Thursday evening reception which included dancing to the tunes of reggae and African music. The dance was well coordinated by the RTC team and instructors. Graduation came quickly for most participants as they expressed their willingness to come back to center for more training.

Stay tuned for more interesting stories from our alumni network.

March 2017

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:48:23 GMT

The RTC believes that one of the ways to improve international security is to combat violent extremism. Last month, The RTC hosted the FBI for a countering violent extremism course with the focus on Anti-corruption. Let’s take a look at the main activities that featured during the training period.

RTC local staff

The opening ceremony was graced with the presence of the FBI Legal Attaché at the US Embassy Ghana. Kudos to Matthew, Javier, Jeffrey and John - the experienced FBI instructor team who flawlessly delivered the course in a unique way based on their area of expertise. It was an awesome class made up of students from Ghana, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire and Benin. Although the number of Francophones outweighed that of the Anglophones, the language difference posed no issue at all. It was exciting to listen to the depth of knowledge that was shared through interactive classroom discussions and country led presentations on public corruption cases. The diversified opinions, constructive contributions and active classroom participation made the teaching and learning very practical and applicable. It was an educational and informative week where students learned specific techniques used in public corruption investigation from initiation to prosecution.

Participants from Ivory Coast working together on a case study during the CVE -Anti-Corruption

I bet participants will always remember Wednesday international food day at the RTC when they were served with a variety of international meals based on their country’s specialty. A lovely dinner reception took place on Thursday evening with all participants and instructors attending. The beautiful night saw various dance moves and other hidden talents from instructors and participants alike. The celebration was crowned with the famous francophone song (Miss lolo) by Freddie Meiway which got everyone up on their feet doing their final boogie before the night came to an end. The fun and excitement experienced was simply unforgettable.

The energy from the night before always affects Graduation Friday in a very positive manner. Participants were in high spirits as they exchanged contacts and shared personal information with each other. Friday came early for most of them as they openly expressed how they wished they could have stayed longer for further training. After graduation, participants toddled away slowly with lingering memories of the networking that had been built over such a short period training.

Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events at the RTC.

February 2017

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:50:18 GMT

It’s always awesome sharing knowledge, experience and vision with delegates that attend trainings at the Center. For the month of January, we hosted a simultaneous delivery on Human Trafficking and Threat Finance. The experienced team of facilitators gave compelling reasons to challenge delegates to push themselves and achieve higher success at their various working law enforcement groups. Let’s take a look at the highlights of the course.

The RTC commends Todd, Ted and Peter for the successful launch of our first pilot course for the year - Combatting Violent Extremism (CVE) - Threat Finance course. Todd and his team led the class with critical thinking discussions on emerging terrorist trends and the most effective ways of investigating terrorist financing. The class commenced on a lively note with the delegates from Kenya immediately setting the pace for bonding and networking with the other delegates from Ghana, Sierra Leonne, Tanzania and Nigeria during the class introductions. This was coupled with thought provoking discussions and country led presentations aimed at reducing terror organizations’ financial capabilities. There was a variety of cultural display and interesting discussions on Thursday night when participants danced to the tune of their favorite African music. Participants expressed great enthusiasm on Graduation Friday as they were grateful to the RTC and the team of instructors for the knowledge received throughout the training period and promised to keep their communication lines open.

The Anti Human Trafficking Course also ran smoothly with Ghanaian delegates from Ghana Police Service and Ghana Immigration Service. The interaction between the Ghanaian delegates and the other delegates from the Threat finance class contributed greatly to the synergy and network that was created throughout the entire week. This led to a great appreciation of inter-agency cooperation and the need to work together to ensure the success of cases.

Some participants in a group photo with instructors from the WARNATH Group at the end of the one week workshop on Anti-Human Trafficking at the RTC

For the first time, the RTC worked with the WARNATH Group – an independent global advisory firm which specializes in issues relating to human trafficking, international women’s economic empowerment and related emerging human rights issues. Sheila led the team of Instructors, who made use of classroom presentations, and role play demonstrations on human trafficking scenarios aimed at increasing participants’ knowledge and equipping them with the needed skills to identify and investigate human trafficking cases. The course ended successfully on Friday with delegates fully exhibiting a great sense of achievement in their elegant African attires and wearing smiles of achievement knowing that they have improved their knowledge in the area of handling Human Trafficking cases.

Post by Esther Afari . Esther is one of the Delegate/Alumni Coordinators at the West Africa Regional Training Center. Email her at info@westafricartc.org

Welcome to the New Year!

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:58:00 GMT

Ghana and U.S Collaboration

Preparing for the New Year

The New Year offers an opportunity for new beginnings, bigger challenges, and new celebrations. The RTC looks forward to greater achievements this year and wishes the same for its alumni. As part of our efforts to encourage our alumni to obtain the maximum success in their career, we have carefully put together notes on how this can be accomplished. If you have more ideas that you would like to share, please feel free to comment on our Facebook page or, if you prefer, you may email us at info@westafricartc.org, With that said, Below is a list of useful tips to help kick-start the year.

Create a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude opens your mind to new possibilities, ideas and opportunities. Resolve to have a positive outlook and make the most out of every situation no matter how bad it may seem. Maximum success in our career can be achieved if we develop forward thinking and become open minded. We encourage our alumni network to develop an attitude of gratitude knowing that every step forward is a step of something bigger and better.

It is time to plan and prepare

Planning begins with identifying and setting precise, measurable goals. Once you have set some new goals, you can work on creating the objectives of the goal not forgetting to list the benefits and obstacles of the goal. You can break down how you will achieve your goals by creating a plan of action which includes setting daily targets that can take you closer to achieving your goals. Do your best to avoid delay and take the necessary action to accomplish these goals by periodically evaluating your goals. Careful planning enables you to release your full potential for personal and professional success. We encourage all alumni to optimize these pointers in overcoming obstacles and to make your future achievement unlimited.

Gear up for the rest of the year

Finally, we recommend that all alumni try to stay healthy by exercising on a daily basis in order to help reduce stress. In addition, learn a new skill and increase your Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Enhancing your brain’s capacity is a good thing. You can do this by reading more books that will improve your life. Make it a point to learn something new each day and increase your charisma and confidence at all times.

To conclude, the 2017 year of activities is off to a great start. Stay tuned for more updates as the calendar is filling up fast.

Post by Collins Agyare . Collins is one of the Delegate/Alumni Coordinators at the West Africa Regional Training Center. Email him at info@westafricartc.org

2016 Alumni Testimonials

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:41:49 GMT

It’s very hard to believe that year 2016 is coming to an end. This year has been full of very wonderful, educative and interesting trainings. There is no doubt that all the trainings organized at the RTC has addressed some critical issues and needs in the law enforcement community in the West Africa sub region and beyond. As a result, most of our alumni have expressed high interest in coming back to the RTC to build on the knowledge already acquired knowledge from the RTC. This puts the RTC in a very good position to assume the responsibility of facilitating ‘crème de la crème’ training programs for the law enforcement community in Africa. Let us take a look at sampled feedback from some alumni who have great testimonials about the RTC:

First of all, I want to show my profound gratitude to the brain behind establishing RTC because it’s a great citadel of learning for all, especially the law enforcement community. Indeed, RTC can be likened to the engine room of knowledge to enlarge the coast of security operations in the continent of Africa to meet up with International best practices in all ramifications. (Mr. Omotoso, NDLEA Nigeria)

RTC Director with Staff

The West Africa Regional Training Center (RTC) is doing a very great job and I wish to say thank you very much for your help. I have had two opportunities to be trained at the RTC and I'm proud to say that my operational skills have been enhanced. This gives me maximum confidence in my line of work. The collaboration between agencies within the Kotoka International Airport has been improved a little although there's much more to be done. A network of my group was formed by me and we are all on a WhatsApp communication group; sharing information and seeking clarity within the click of a button. I am so thankful to the partners, teachers and everyone. Hitherto, we wouldn't have had these skills and collaboration to fight a common course. God bless the RTC, God bless the partners and God bless Africa. (Madam Marmon-Halm, Ghana Immigration Service)

I hope everything is well at the Regional Training Center. It’s been a year and some months now since I attended the basic course in drug enforcement. I would like to show my gratitude because I have been enrolled to work for a special team. Frankly speaking I got this opportunity because I reviewed my notes and the knowledge I gained at that course which made me to be eligible. I just wanted to let you know how important that course have changed my career. May you keep up with the good job and GOD BLESS YOU ALL. (Witness Richard, Tanzania)

Projections for 2017 training year at the RTC

The Executive Assistant to the RTC Director (left) and the RTC Delegate and Alumni Coordinator (right)

We are proud to mention that 2017 marks 5 years of continuous successful training deliveries for the law enforcement community in Africa at large. We can equally say that the number and quality of trainings continue to increase and improve. It is also worthy to note that most of the trainings delivered at the RTC basically touch on the very issues that constitute threats to the security and peace of Africa.

The good news is that 2017 looks more promising as it is packed with more critical and well-tailored trainings that seek to equip participants with the requisite skills to deal with some of the growing trends of organized crimes in Africa and the world at large. These anticipated trainings are all coupled with relevant hands-on practical exercises to give participants a deeper understanding of what they learn. Participants can also expect the best of instructor teams to handle some of these critical and important trainings.

A number of the trainings scheduled for 2017 are centered on addressing the different issues of violent extremism. These training modules have been designed to identify means and strategies to counter violent extremism of any kind. Some of the key areas that these trainings will focus on are: community policing, threat financing, anti-corruption, and inter-agency cooperation.

Some other trainings coming in 2017 are International Air Cargo Interdiction Training, International Border Interdiction Training, Case Organization and Presentation, Fisheries Enforcement and Prosecution, Investigative Interviewing, and Financial Investigation Techniques.

RTC Ghana Local Staff

In our efforts to bring alumni together to foster and promote communication and interaction, RTC plans on organizing three alumni events in the coming year in some selected countries. These events will bring alumni from different participating law enforcement agencies together to discuss and suggest means of cooperation among participants to bolster and strengthen peaceful environments in their respectful countries.

We are looking forward to welcoming both old and new members to the RTC family in the coming year. We wish everyone the very best in their field of operations. We also hope to feature more of your articles and success stories in our newsletters in the coming year.

Post by Esther Afari . Esther is one of the Delegate/Alumni Coordinators at the West Africa Regional Training Center. Email her at info@westafricartc.org

December 2016

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 18:02:30 GMT

The year’s end always brings with it a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Twelve months have passed quickly. The RTC is proud to have successfully hosted twenty six different training deliveries made up of over 800 participants across West Africa which involved the active participation of excellent team of instructors from about 10 different law enforcement agencies. Let’s take a peep into the year 2016 at the RTC. Enjoy the read.

RTC Staff who worked behind the Scenes to ensure successful delivery of Trainings

We kick-started this year in January with the first training delivery on the topic of Office of Professional Responsibility and Internal Affairs (OPR/IA) which provided participants with enhanced knowledge on how to effectively conduct and enhance criminal and administrative investigations on employees. The next course was the Advanced Drug Enforcement Seminar put on by experts from the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who flawlessly executed the delivery of the course by highlighting the concepts and skills needed to participate effectively in drug investigations.

The month of February ended with a delivery by the U.S Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on Fundamental Investigative Criminal Analysis (FICA). The month of March picked up with three successful deliveries on Financial Investigation seminar, Clandestine Laboratory and Chemical Diversion Investigations Seminar facilitated by the U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM). These courses engaged both participants and Instructors in constructive discussions and multiple group assignments. Trainings progressed in April with three deliveries as well. The first was an INL/ Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) sponsored training on Trafficking in Persons and Child Exploitation course. This course was followed by Offender Classification workshop and Judicial Forum, delivered by the U.S Africa and Middle East Agency (AME).

Happy Holidays!!

The month of May was exceptional. The RTC hosted an International Air Cargo Interdiction (IACIT) and Land Border Interdiction (IBIT) Training which was relocated to the RTC, from ILEA Gaborone. The courses were made up of sixty two (62) participants representing six (6) countries. A five (5) member instructor team from U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE led the course. The courses trained various working level law enforcement professionals in the land border and airport environment by reinforcing techniques related to land border interdiction and enhancing airport enforcement knowledge of front-line and mid-level customs. The month of May ended with a Primary Investigative Criminal Analysis Course (PICA) which built on the skill and knowledge base acquired during the Fundamental Investigative Criminal Analysis course (FICA) which was delivered earlier this year. Of the thirty nine (39) participants who attended the FICA course earlier this year, thirty (35) attended the PICA course and provided great feedback on how they utilized the skills acquired during the months following the FICA course delivery.

In the month of June, the RTC hosted twenty seven (27) Ghanaian participants drawn from various ministries and government agencies who played a role in drafting the Ghana National Action Plan on Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

A graduating Class for the Airport Interdiction Course

We commenced the month of July with a series of back-to-back deliveries which lasted till August. The DEA took the lead with courses ranging from Advanced Narcotics Training, Equipment Training and the Regional Airport Interdiction Training. These classes brought together participants from all over Africa and expanded the RTC network significantly. The awesome Instructor team from CBP handled another Airport Interdiction course. We hosted an organized team of Instructors from FBI for a Crime Scene Management course. These Instructors excelled at organizing a daily practical crime scene assessment throughout the one week. Along Came the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the Fisheries Enforcement and Prosecution Workshop which addressed the technicalities of conducting a successful investigation and prosecution of fisheries-related violations. The INL, Office of Africa and Middle East (AME) programs delivered a Border Management Workshop which addressed governance issues in the Government of Ghana (GOG) border security. For the first time, a workshop on Protective Security Detail was also facilitated. We closed the month of August with a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) course handled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In the month of September, the RTC successfully launched it maiden Alumni Network Reunion which set the pace for useful discourse on success stories and experience sharing among all Ghanaian Alumni who participated. We also facilitated a two day workshop on Administration of Justice. October passed quietly with very little activity. November picked up with a successful pilot of a Countering Violent Extremism, Community Policing course which engaged five Ghanaian community leaders in useful interactions on their perspective of violent extremism in their communities and their expectations from law enforcement agencies. We closed out the year with a three (3) day Workshop on Prosecuting State Attorneys aimed at enhancing the prosecution skills of fifteen newly appointed state attorneys in Ghana.

All in all, it has been a wonderful year and we wish to express our immense appreciation to all Coordinating Agencies, Stake holders, Sponsors, Partners, Contractors, Instructors, Alumni and the RTC Ghana local staff for supporting INL’s mission of building regional cooperation and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement to combat transnational organized crime. Happy Holidays!!!

Post by Esther Afari . Esther is one of the Delegate/Alumni Coordinators at the West Africa Regional Training Center. Email her at info@westafricartc.org