A statement issued by the French Embassy and copied to the Ghana  News Agency said the session, begun with the two French officers  from the Dog Training Center in Cannes Ecluse in France, bomb  detection expert Brigadier Christophe Bihoreau and drug detection  expert Brigadier Stéphan Filipic, conducting an assessment of the  six sniffer dogs and the group of 12 trainees made up of six  military officers and six officers from Narcotics Control Board

(NACOB) who were selected for the training. It noted that as the assessment revealed a poor level of motivation on the part of the sniffer dogs, the experts decided  to increase the level of interaction between the canines and  their handlers by engaging them in training exercises on the  field.

It said next, following the request of the Authorities of the  Academy, the training officers tested a total of 65 month old  puppies, which were being bred for future training as sniffer  dogs, nine of which belong to the Military and seven to the  Immigration Service.

It said the trainees were also taught specific recruitment tests  to carry out in order to ensure an effective selection process.The statement said practical aspect of the training was conducted  at the Kotoka International Airport where the handlers and their  dogs demonstrated their newly acquired skills on the luggage of  travellers at the international arrival hall of the airport. It said the closing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of  France to Ghana, Mr François Pujolas; the Executive Secretary of  NACOB, Provost Marshall Commey; and representatives from both the  Ministry of the Interior and Parliament.

The Ambassador of France emphasized on "the importance of  security and stability in Ghana and the sub-region in order to  ensure progress in economic development".

He stressed the need to develop initiatives like this one to  better train security agencies officers in Ghana.  Mr Pojulas declared that "the regional position of this academy  will serve to improve Ghana’s integration in West Africa. "This is a new and concrete step towards a more integrated  approach in the common fight of concerned countries against  criminal activities," he added.

The Head of the Academy requested that this cooperation exercise  be continued next year in order to establish the Academy as a sniffer dog training centre of excellence, to train not only  handlers in Ghana but also those from neighbouring countries.

This, Provost Marshall Commey said, would make the Sniffer Dog  Academy the first of its kind in the sub-region, maintaining  security for all. The Sniffer Dog Academy, which is managed by the Ghanaian  Military, has a total of 35 dogs made up of attack dogs and bomb  detection dogs that are handled by military officers and drug  detection dogs that are handled by the NACOB.