The RTC Has a New Facility!
We have had a flurry of activity in Accra, Ghana with the Regional Training Center (RTC) relocating to a large, new facility supported by several additional staff experts. The move reflects the success of the RTC in advancing the regional goal of dismantling transnational organized criminal networks and strengthening criminal justice capacity in West Africa. Working on behalf of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), CTP will continue to support U.S. government international security initiatives by developing and delivering specialized training to Ghanaians and delegates from neighboring West African countries.
Faced with exploding demand for these types of multi-disciplinary training, there was an unmistakable need to relocate to a larger facility. In April 2017, in a grand opening ceremony, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana commissioned the new RTC facility in the presence of high-level government officials. The new facility has three training rooms as well as an auditorium for lecture-styled trainings. There are also multiple meeting rooms for breakout sessions as well as a large cafeteria space. With this new upgrade, the RTC will be able to facilitate multiple training programs at a time.
The RTC’s program management staff is also expanding. CTP’s Criminal Justice Programs (CJP) group leads this effort with a team of experts with extensive experience on international program development and implementation. The group is led by two retired DEA and FBI agents, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise on translating U.S. government policy into strategic and measurable outcomes. Together, they bring over 49 years of combined experience from working in Africa, South America and South West Asia, in advanced law enforcement leadership positions.
Their overall vision for the RTC is focused on operationalizing INL’s goal through the development of effective strategies to strengthen security capabilities in West Africa. The team also includes Project Managers who are knowledgeable about security issues in Africa and creatively work to bring INL’s mission to life. The project managers focus on delivering high quality security assistance by adhering to strict performance and operational standards. They also focus on developing monitoring and evaluation tools that continuously assess and measure the impact of the program.
On the local front, a group of young, motivated Ghanaians work tirelessly to maintain the RTC’s reputation as one of the best training facilities in Africa. An experienced Operations Manager coordinates the specific teams to ensure smooth training deliveries. The Delegate and Alumni team handles participant-related logistics and data management. The Accounts and Finance team oversee the fiscal management of the RTC while the IT/Production team are in charge of technology and course material production. Finally, the Transportation and Logistics team ensure the provision of ground transportation for all our instructors and participants and helps in the day-to-day management of the center. This closely knit group of individuals brings consistency and professionalism to the RTC program, fostering collaboration between delegates from different countries and building the infrastructure for enhanced engagement amongst African and America law enforcement professionals. For more RTC related news and training updates, visit www.westafricartc.org.
