Personnel of the United States Marine Corps joined the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Friday to foil an attack on the US Embassy in Accra in a drill that was aimed at making them battle ready to prevent threats and incursions.

The drill which lasted almost two hours, took place at the US Embassy in Accra, where a man was loitering around with a knife and attempted to enter the Embassy building, hence had to be restrained by the joint team.

The man was blocked and canonized to a place where he was arrested before the knife was taken away from him but he managed to throw a bag he was holding into a bush nearby the building.

The team of security personnel and Military Police dogs were brought in and the reactions of the dogs indicated the bag of the man contained explosives.

The team had to quickly render the explosives safe and sample taken for the necessary investigations.

While that was happening, a crowd dispersal team wielding shields had to evacuate the about 60 Embassy staff to safety.

The evacuation is in line with safety measures in a hostile situation before any operation is carried out.

Head of the Ghanaian Team, Lieutenant Colonel Gaspard Asare, who is also the Commanding Officer of Base Ammunition Depot at the Michel Camp Tema in Charge of Explosive Ordnance Disposals and Bomb Threats told 3FM he was impressed with the exercise.

“I’m very impressed about the exercise and so are the US Embassy Staff. As you may well know, the US always have high standards so for you to be invited to undertake such an exercise with them is an indication of your standards as well.

“Everything was on time, the military, police, military dogs and the US Marine all cooperated to achieve the aim of the drill,” he said.

Lt Col Asare said the exercise is the first of a series for the year.