(Accra, Ghana – August 25, 2025) The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in collaboration with the German Government and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has officially commenced the Hostile Environment Awareness Training Course (HEAT 25).
The course, funded by the German Government, is designed to equip participants with practical skills to navigate high-risk and volatile environments with confidence, resilience, and preparedness. Thirty (30) participants from both military and civilian background enrolled in the course.
It aims to equip participants with knowledge of the various dangers in hostile environments and situations such as civil unrest, weapons proliferation, landmines and explosives and hostile forces as well as enhancing their skills/capacities on how to react appropriately.
In his opening remarks, the Director Training at KAIPTC, Colonel Lawrence Deku, emphasized that the current realities of conflict across the continent and the inherent risks faced by those involved require a high level of preparedness to operate safely, responsibly, and effectively in hostile, conflict-ridden, and post-conflict environments.
He noted that the nature of the HEAT course aligns directly with the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a peaceful and secure Africa.
Col Deku explained that participants would engage in a balanced mix of classroom learning and hands-on simulations, from ambush response and medical emergencies to evacuation drills and risk assessments. These, he noted, would challenge them to stay composed under pressure, protect those who depend on their courage, and preserve dignity and humanity even in the most demanding circumstances.
”This course is not solely about operational readiness but also about human dimensions of working in hostile environment, helping you to reflect on how to preserve dignity and humanity when confronted with inhumane conditions, how to protect those who depend on your courage and clarity and how to avoid burnout while sustaining compassion” he said.
Col Deku expressed gratitude to the Government of Germany and UNITAR for their generous and unwavering support to the Centre.
