Accra, March 14, GNA - France is to help train Ghanaian soldiers in two separate programmes this year, the French Embassy said in Accra on Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Marcel, Defence Attach=E9 at the French Embassy said the first programme was for senior staff of the Ghana Armed Forces to study in the best French schools in France (Ecole d'Etat-Major and Coll=E8ge interarm=E9es de d=E9fense.)

He disclosed this during a courtesy call on Brigadier General K. Amedoh, Head of Training Programmes of Ghana Armed Forces. Lt-Col Marcel said the second programme was to give opportunity to officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) to go to their West African military schools.

He said French and English were both used for major part of these military training.

"The Ghana Armed Forces are consequently warmly welcome to apply for these programmes even if they are not French speaking," he said. Brigadier General Amedoh expressed his gratitude to the French officials and assured them that 10 security personnel from the three services would be included in these programmes this year. He said a French-speaking officer would be sent to the Coll=E8ge Interarm=E9es of Paris for a year's programme.