Ghana Army
Encyclopedia
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
obtained independence as Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army. Together with the Ghanaian air force
Ghana Air Force
The Ghana Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. The GAF, along with the Ghanaian Army and Navy, make up the armed forces of Ghana which are controlled by that nation's Ministry of Defence....
and navy
Ghana Navy
The Ghana Navy is the naval force of the West African nation of Ghana. The navy, along with the Ghana Army and Ghana Air Force, make up the Ghana Armed Forces.-History:...
, the Army makes up the Ghana Armed Forces
Military of Ghana
The Ghana Armed Forces consists of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. It is supervised by the Ministry of Defence . With around 7,000 personnel serving in the Ghanian military, Ghana has the lowest ratio of active troops per thousand citizens in the world, standing at 0.33. However, the Ghanaian...
, controlled by The Ministry of Defence and Central Defence Headquarters, both located in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
.
History
The command structure for the army forces in Ghana originally stemmed from the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's West Africa Command
West Africa Command
-History:After the First World War, military forces in the four British West African colonies were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the Royal West African Frontier Force...
. Lieutenant General Lashmer Whistler
Lashmer Whistler
General Sir Lashmer Gordon Whistler GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars, DL , known as Bolo, was a British army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. In the Second World War he achieved senior ranks serving with Field Marshal Montgomery in North Africa and Europe...
was the penultimate commander holding the command from 1951 to 1953. Lt Gen Sir Otway Herbert
Otway Herbert
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Otway Herbert KBE CB DSO was a British Army General who achieved high command in the 1950s.-Military career:...
, who left the West Africa Command in 1955, was the last commander. The command was dissolved on 1 July 1956.
In 1957, the Ghana Army consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron
with armoured cars. Total strength was approximately 5,700 men. Partially due to an over-supply of British officers after the end of the Second World War, only 12% of the officer corps in Ghana, 29 officers out a total of 209 in all, were Ghanaians at independence. Under Major General Alexander Paley, there were almost 200 British officers and 230 warrant officers and senior commissioned officers posted throughout the Ghanaian Army.
Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
wished to rapidly expand and Africanise the army in order to support his Pan-African and anti-colonial ambitions. Thus in 1961, 4th and 5th Battalions were established, and in 1964 6th Battalion was established, from a parachute unit originally raised in 1963. Second Infantry Brigade Group was established in 1961 to command the two battalions raised that year. However, 3rd Battalion was disbanded in February 1961 after an August 1960 mutiny while on Operation des Nations Unies au Congo service at Tshikapa
Tshikapa
Tshikapa is a city in Kasaï District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located about 40 miles north of the Angolan border and 120 miles west of province capital Kananga at the confluence of the Tshikapa and Kasai rivers. According to records published by the Utrecht University...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The changeover from British to Ghanaian officers meant a sudden lowering of experience levels. The Ghanaian commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel David Hansen, had on appointment as battalion commander only seven years of military experience, compared to the more normal twenty years' of experience for battalion commanders in Western armies. He was badly beaten by his troops during the mutiny. 4th Battalion was raised under a British commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Cairns, from the single company of the 3rd Battalion that had not mutinied.
Initial British planning by Paley before his departure in 1959 had provided for all British officers to be withdrawn by 1970; however, under pressure from Nkrumah, Paley's successor Major General Henry Alexander
Henry Templer Alexander
Major General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
revised the plans, seeing all British personnel to depart by 1962. However, in September 1961, Alexander and all other
British officers and men serving with the Ghanaian armed forces were abruptedly dismissed. Nkrumah was determined to indigenize his armed forces fully, after some years of accelerated promotion of Ghanaian personnel.
Simon Baynham says that “the wholesale shambles which surely must have resulted from simply expelling the expatriate contract and seconded officers was averted by the arrival of Canadian military technicians and training officers.” Canadian training team personnel were assigned to the Military Academy (1961-1968), the Military Hospital, as Brigade Training Officers (1961-1968), to the air force, and later the Ministry of Defence (1963-1968), Ghana Army Headquarters (1963-1968) and the Airborne School.
Matters deteriorated further after the coup that deposed Nkrumah. In July 1967, Canadian Colonel James Bond, the Canadian military attache, asked to write a report on how Canada could further assist the Ghanaian armed forces, wrote that 'during 1966 the preoccupation of.. senior officers with their civilian duties as members of the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
and as regional administrators, resulted in an unconscious neglect of the welfare of the Army.' Available able intermediate level officers had been assigned civilian administrative duties, leaving the army short.
Ghana has contributed forces to numerous UN and ECOWAS operations, including in the Congo, Lebanon, and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
(ECOMOG and UNMIL). Ghana contributed UN peacekeepers in UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian force commander Romeo Dallaire gave the Ghanaian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict.
The Ghanaian contingent lost 3 soldiers in the conflict.
Structure
The Ghana army is divided into two brigade sized "commands":- Northern Command (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
(3rd Infantry Battalion (3Bn)), KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
(4th Infantry Battalion (4Bn)), and TamaleTamaleA tamale — or more correctly tamal — is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa , which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating...
(6th Infantry Battalion (6Bn)) - The Airborne Force (ABF) in Tamale (One company sized formation each in Upper West and Upper East regions respectively)
- 2nd Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron in Sunyani
- 2nd Signal Squadron in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Workshop in Kumasi
- 2n Field Ambulance in Kumasi
- 2nd Transport Company in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Operations Center in Kumasi
- 3x light infantry battalions at Sunyani
- Southern Command (AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at TemaTemaTema is a city on the Atlantic coast of Ghana, lying east of the Ghanaian capital city, Accra, in the region of Greater Accra. As of 2005, Tema had a population of 209,000. The Greenwich Meridian passes directly through the city...
(1st Infantry Battalion (1Bn)), Takoradi (2nd Infantry Battalion (2Bn)), and AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
(5th Infantry Battalion (5Bn))) - 64th Infantry Regiment (Rapid Reaction Battalion) in Accra
- Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment in Accra
- 66th Artillery Regiment in HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
- 48th Engineer Regiment in TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
- 1st Field Workshop in Accra
- 1 Motor Transport Battalion (1MT)
- 3x light infantry battalions at Tema
Infantry
The Ghanaian Army consists of three distinct infantry elements:- Ghana RegimentGhana RegimentThe Ghana Regiment is an infantry regiment that forms the main fighting element of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was formed in 1879 as the Gold Coast Constabulary, from personnel of the Hausa Constabulary of Southern Nigeria, to perform internal security and police duties in the British colony of...
- The major element of the army is the six light infantryLight infantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalions of the Ghana Regiment. Three battalions are assigned to each brigade. - Airborne Force - The Airborne Force (ABF) is a battalion sized formation including a parachute trained company assigned to the Northern Command.
- 64 Infantry RegimentPresident's Own Guard RegimentThe President's Own Guard Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was founded in 1960 as the Presidential Guard Regiment following Ghana's independence, when Kwame Nkrumah increased the Presidential Bodyguard from a company to a full regiment...
- 64 Infantry Regiment is the commando trained rapid reaction force assigned to the Southern Command.
Combat Support
- Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron (SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
) - Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment
- 48 Engineer Regiment (TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
, AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
region) - 49 Engineer Regiment
- 66 Artillery Regiment (Volta Barracks, HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
; formed 2003 from previous Medium Mortar Regiment) - Signals Regiment (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
) - LogisticsLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Group
Chiefs of the Army Staff
The head of the Ghana Army was formerly referred to as the army commander but now has the title above. The list of former heads lies below.- Brigadier D. H. Tadman – Brigade Commander
- Major General A. G. V. Paley (? – 1960) - First designated army commander
- Major General Henry Templer AlexanderHenry Templer AlexanderMajor General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
(1960 – 1961) - combined CDS with army commander - Brigadier Joseph Arthur AnkrahJoseph Arthur AnkrahLieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah served as the first commander of the Army of Ghana and from 1966 and 1969 as the second head of state.-Early life:...
(Dec 1961 – Oct 1962) - first native Ghanaian commander) - Major General S. J. A. OtuStephen OtuMajor General Stephen J. A. Otu is a former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was the first Ghanaian officer to serve in this capacity.-Career:...
(Oct 1962 – Jul 1965) - Brigadier A. K. Ocran (Feb 1966 – Aug 1966)
- Major General Cleland Cofie Bruce (Aug 1966 – May 1967)
- Major General A. K. OcranAlbert Kwesi OcranLieutenant General Albert Kwesi Ocran is a soldier and politician. He was a member of the Presidential Commission of Ghana between 1969 and 1970...
(May 1967 – Nov 1968) - Brigadier D. C. K. Amenu (Nov 1968 – Aug 1969)
- Major General D. K. Addo (Aug 1969 – Jun 1971)
- Brigadier J. R. K. Acquah (Jun 1971 – Oct 1971)
- Brigadier H. D. Twum-Barimah (Oct 1971 – Jan 1972)
- Colonel Emmanuel Alexander ErskineEmmanuel ErskineLieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine is a retired Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana army...
(Jan 1972 – Feb 1972) - Brigadier D. A. Asare (Feb 1972 – Jan 1973)
- Brigadier E. A. Erskine (Feb 1973 – Apr 1974)
- Brigadier Fred W. K. AkuffoFred AkuffoLieutenant General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo was a soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Head of state and chairman of the ruling Supreme Military Council in Ghana from 1978 to 1979...
(May 1974 – Nov 1976) - Brigadier and later Major General Robert KoteiRobert KoteiMajor General Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei was a soldier, politician and track and field athlete. He was once the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and also a member of the Supreme Military Council which ruled Ghana between 1975 and 1979. He was executed in 1979, following a...
(Nov 1976 – Jul 1978) - Major General Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington (Jul 1978 – Jun 1979) - died in office
- Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-MensahJoseph Nunoo-MensahBrigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which overthrew the government of Dr...
- Brigadier Arnold Quainoo (Jul 1979 - Nov 1979)
- Brigadier I. K. Amoah (Nov 1979 – Dec 1981)
- Brigadier/Major Gen Arnold Quainoo (Jan 1982 – Jun 1987)
- Major General W.M. Mensah-Wood Jun 87 – Jun 90
- Brigadier Ben K. Akafia (Jun 1990 – Jan 1992)
- Major General Ben K. Akafia (Jan 1992 – Sep 1996)
- Major General J. H. SmithJoseph Henry SmithLieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith is the Minister for Defence of Ghana and a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Army.-Early life and education:...
(Oct 1996 – Feb 2001) - Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (Feb 2001 – Jun 2005)
- Major General Samuel Anum Odotei (20 May 2005 – 2009)
- Major General J.N. Adinkrah (31 Mar 2009–present)
Rank structure
It is similar to the British army ranks structureThey are arranged in descending order:
Officer ranks
- GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- Lieutenant-General
- Major-General
- Brigadier-General
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
- Captain
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
- Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Enlisted ranks
- Chief Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
- Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 1 - Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 2 - Staff SergeantStaff SergeantStaff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
- SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
- CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
- Lance-Corporal
- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Equipment
HP-35
BelgiumS&W .38 No-2 MK-I
H&K MP-5A3
GermanySterling MK-IV
2,300 M-15A2
200 M-15A-2C
7,751 M-16A-2
6,000 M-16A-1
Colt M-4 Carbine
H&K HK-33A
GermanyAKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
AKMS
FN-FAL 0050\L-1A1
Belgium12,000 H&K G-3\ G-3A-1 \ G-3A-3
GermanyModel 500ATP-6 Shoutgun
MAG 60-00 \ L37A-2 Coaxil
BelgiumAA-52
AA-52
The AA-52 is one of the first French-produced guns of the post World War II era. It was manufactured by MAS...
Char No.1
Early Modern FranceBrowning M-1919A-4 \ L-3A-3 \ L-3A-4
Bren MK-II
Browning M-2HB
81mm mortars
120mm mortars Tempella M73
FinlandM-1 \ PASGT \ German 826 \ Marte \ MK-6 Helmets
Germany15 Alvis FV-601 Saladin 76mm 6x6 ARVs-Out of Service
30 Daimler FV-702 Ferret MK-II\II 4x4 ARVs-Out of Service
3 Engesa EE-9 Cascavel
EE-9 Cascavel
The EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...
90mm 6x6 ARVs
Brazil6 Gaz BTR-60
BTR-60
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...
8x8 APCs
M-113 Gevin APCs-with UN units
United NationsSisu XA-180 6x6 APCs-with UN units
Finland United Nations61 Mowag LAV Pirahna 4x4\6x6\8x8 with 30 Oerlikon KAA 204GK 20mm& M-811 25mm guns\Dragar turret
39 Armscor Ratel-20(14)\Ratel-90(25) with 20\90mm guns 6x6 AIFVs\ARVs
South Africa4 Armscor Ratel-81 SPM with 81mm mortar 6x6 APCs
South Africa4 Casspir
Casspir
The Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when...
MPV
South AfricaRinkhals MPV
South Africa20 Tactica APCs
South Africa48 ZFB-05 APCs
Mainland ChinaRM-70
RM-70
The RM-70 multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system that was introduced in 1971 .- Overview :RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for...
122mm MRLs
Czech Republic3 Type -81 122mm MRLs
Mainland China5 Type -63 107mm MRLs
Mainland ChinaD-30 122mm towed howitzers
28 IMI
IMI
IMI is a three letter acronym. It can stand for*Industrial Management Institute* Industrial Vibration Monitoring Instrumentation, division of PCB Piezotronics*Indian Music Industry*Innovative Medicines Initiative of the European Union...
M-65 120mm heavy mortar
EQ1093F6D 5ton trucks
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
obtained independence as Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army. Together with the Ghanaian air force
Ghana Air Force
The Ghana Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. The GAF, along with the Ghanaian Army and Navy, make up the armed forces of Ghana which are controlled by that nation's Ministry of Defence....
and navy
Ghana Navy
The Ghana Navy is the naval force of the West African nation of Ghana. The navy, along with the Ghana Army and Ghana Air Force, make up the Ghana Armed Forces.-History:...
, the Army makes up the Ghana Armed Forces
Military of Ghana
The Ghana Armed Forces consists of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. It is supervised by the Ministry of Defence . With around 7,000 personnel serving in the Ghanian military, Ghana has the lowest ratio of active troops per thousand citizens in the world, standing at 0.33. However, the Ghanaian...
, controlled by The Ministry of Defence and Central Defence Headquarters, both located in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
.
History
The command structure for the army forces in Ghana originally stemmed from the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's West Africa Command
West Africa Command
-History:After the First World War, military forces in the four British West African colonies were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the Royal West African Frontier Force...
. Lieutenant General Lashmer Whistler
Lashmer Whistler
General Sir Lashmer Gordon Whistler GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars, DL , known as Bolo, was a British army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. In the Second World War he achieved senior ranks serving with Field Marshal Montgomery in North Africa and Europe...
was the penultimate commander holding the command from 1951 to 1953. Lt Gen Sir Otway Herbert
Otway Herbert
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Otway Herbert KBE CB DSO was a British Army General who achieved high command in the 1950s.-Military career:...
, who left the West Africa Command in 1955, was the last commander. The command was dissolved on 1 July 1956.
In 1957, the Ghana Army consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron
with armoured cars. Total strength was approximately 5,700 men. Partially due to an over-supply of British officers after the end of the Second World War, only 12% of the officer corps in Ghana, 29 officers out a total of 209 in all, were Ghanaians at independence. Under Major General Alexander Paley, there were almost 200 British officers and 230 warrant officers and senior commissioned officers posted throughout the Ghanaian Army.
Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
wished to rapidly expand and Africanise the army in order to support his Pan-African and anti-colonial ambitions. Thus in 1961, 4th and 5th Battalions were established, and in 1964 6th Battalion was established, from a parachute unit originally raised in 1963. Second Infantry Brigade Group was established in 1961 to command the two battalions raised that year. However, 3rd Battalion was disbanded in February 1961 after an August 1960 mutiny while on Operation des Nations Unies au Congo service at Tshikapa
Tshikapa
Tshikapa is a city in Kasaï District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located about 40 miles north of the Angolan border and 120 miles west of province capital Kananga at the confluence of the Tshikapa and Kasai rivers. According to records published by the Utrecht University...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The changeover from British to Ghanaian officers meant a sudden lowering of experience levels. The Ghanaian commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel David Hansen, had on appointment as battalion commander only seven years of military experience, compared to the more normal twenty years' of experience for battalion commanders in Western armies. He was badly beaten by his troops during the mutiny. 4th Battalion was raised under a British commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Cairns, from the single company of the 3rd Battalion that had not mutinied.
Initial British planning by Paley before his departure in 1959 had provided for all British officers to be withdrawn by 1970; however, under pressure from Nkrumah, Paley's successor Major General Henry Alexander
Henry Templer Alexander
Major General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
revised the plans, seeing all British personnel to depart by 1962. However, in September 1961, Alexander and all other
British officers and men serving with the Ghanaian armed forces were abruptedly dismissed. Nkrumah was determined to indigenize his armed forces fully, after some years of accelerated promotion of Ghanaian personnel.
Simon Baynham says that “the wholesale shambles which surely must have resulted from simply expelling the expatriate contract and seconded officers was averted by the arrival of Canadian military technicians and training officers.” Canadian training team personnel were assigned to the Military Academy (1961-1968), the Military Hospital, as Brigade Training Officers (1961-1968), to the air force, and later the Ministry of Defence (1963-1968), Ghana Army Headquarters (1963-1968) and the Airborne School.
Matters deteriorated further after the coup that deposed Nkrumah. In July 1967, Canadian Colonel James Bond, the Canadian military attache, asked to write a report on how Canada could further assist the Ghanaian armed forces, wrote that 'during 1966 the preoccupation of.. senior officers with their civilian duties as members of the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
and as regional administrators, resulted in an unconscious neglect of the welfare of the Army.' Available able intermediate level officers had been assigned civilian administrative duties, leaving the army short.
Ghana has contributed forces to numerous UN and ECOWAS operations, including in the Congo, Lebanon, and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
(ECOMOG and UNMIL). Ghana contributed UN peacekeepers in UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian force commander Romeo Dallaire gave the Ghanaian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict.
The Ghanaian contingent lost 3 soldiers in the conflict.
Structure
The Ghana army is divided into two brigade sized "commands":- Northern Command (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
(3rd Infantry Battalion (3Bn)), KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
(4th Infantry Battalion (4Bn)), and TamaleTamaleA tamale — or more correctly tamal — is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa , which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating...
(6th Infantry Battalion (6Bn)) - The Airborne Force (ABF) in Tamale (One company sized formation each in Upper West and Upper East regions respectively)
- 2nd Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron in Sunyani
- 2nd Signal Squadron in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Workshop in Kumasi
- 2n Field Ambulance in Kumasi
- 2nd Transport Company in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Operations Center in Kumasi
- 3x light infantry battalions at Sunyani
- Southern Command (AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at TemaTemaTema is a city on the Atlantic coast of Ghana, lying east of the Ghanaian capital city, Accra, in the region of Greater Accra. As of 2005, Tema had a population of 209,000. The Greenwich Meridian passes directly through the city...
(1st Infantry Battalion (1Bn)), Takoradi (2nd Infantry Battalion (2Bn)), and AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
(5th Infantry Battalion (5Bn))) - 64th Infantry Regiment (Rapid Reaction Battalion) in Accra
- Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment in Accra
- 66th Artillery Regiment in HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
- 48th Engineer Regiment in TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
- 1st Field Workshop in Accra
- 1 Motor Transport Battalion (1MT)
- 3x light infantry battalions at Tema
Infantry
The Ghanaian Army consists of three distinct infantry elements:- Ghana RegimentGhana RegimentThe Ghana Regiment is an infantry regiment that forms the main fighting element of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was formed in 1879 as the Gold Coast Constabulary, from personnel of the Hausa Constabulary of Southern Nigeria, to perform internal security and police duties in the British colony of...
- The major element of the army is the six light infantryLight infantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalions of the Ghana Regiment. Three battalions are assigned to each brigade. - Airborne Force - The Airborne Force (ABF) is a battalion sized formation including a parachute trained company assigned to the Northern Command.
- 64 Infantry RegimentPresident's Own Guard RegimentThe President's Own Guard Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was founded in 1960 as the Presidential Guard Regiment following Ghana's independence, when Kwame Nkrumah increased the Presidential Bodyguard from a company to a full regiment...
- 64 Infantry Regiment is the commando trained rapid reaction force assigned to the Southern Command.
Combat Support
- Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron (SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
) - Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment
- 48 Engineer Regiment (TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
, AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
region) - 49 Engineer Regiment
- 66 Artillery Regiment (Volta Barracks, HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
; formed 2003 from previous Medium Mortar Regiment) - Signals Regiment (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
) - LogisticsLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Group
Chiefs of the Army Staff
The head of the Ghana Army was formerly referred to as the army commander but now has the title above. The list of former heads lies below.- Brigadier D. H. Tadman – Brigade Commander
- Major General A. G. V. Paley (? – 1960) - First designated army commander
- Major General Henry Templer AlexanderHenry Templer AlexanderMajor General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
(1960 – 1961) - combined CDS with army commander - Brigadier Joseph Arthur AnkrahJoseph Arthur AnkrahLieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah served as the first commander of the Army of Ghana and from 1966 and 1969 as the second head of state.-Early life:...
(Dec 1961 – Oct 1962) - first native Ghanaian commander) - Major General S. J. A. OtuStephen OtuMajor General Stephen J. A. Otu is a former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was the first Ghanaian officer to serve in this capacity.-Career:...
(Oct 1962 – Jul 1965) - Brigadier A. K. Ocran (Feb 1966 – Aug 1966)
- Major General Cleland Cofie Bruce (Aug 1966 – May 1967)
- Major General A. K. OcranAlbert Kwesi OcranLieutenant General Albert Kwesi Ocran is a soldier and politician. He was a member of the Presidential Commission of Ghana between 1969 and 1970...
(May 1967 – Nov 1968) - Brigadier D. C. K. Amenu (Nov 1968 – Aug 1969)
- Major General D. K. Addo (Aug 1969 – Jun 1971)
- Brigadier J. R. K. Acquah (Jun 1971 – Oct 1971)
- Brigadier H. D. Twum-Barimah (Oct 1971 – Jan 1972)
- Colonel Emmanuel Alexander ErskineEmmanuel ErskineLieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine is a retired Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana army...
(Jan 1972 – Feb 1972) - Brigadier D. A. Asare (Feb 1972 – Jan 1973)
- Brigadier E. A. Erskine (Feb 1973 – Apr 1974)
- Brigadier Fred W. K. AkuffoFred AkuffoLieutenant General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo was a soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Head of state and chairman of the ruling Supreme Military Council in Ghana from 1978 to 1979...
(May 1974 – Nov 1976) - Brigadier and later Major General Robert KoteiRobert KoteiMajor General Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei was a soldier, politician and track and field athlete. He was once the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and also a member of the Supreme Military Council which ruled Ghana between 1975 and 1979. He was executed in 1979, following a...
(Nov 1976 – Jul 1978) - Major General Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington (Jul 1978 – Jun 1979) - died in office
- Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-MensahJoseph Nunoo-MensahBrigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which overthrew the government of Dr...
- Brigadier Arnold Quainoo (Jul 1979 - Nov 1979)
- Brigadier I. K. Amoah (Nov 1979 – Dec 1981)
- Brigadier/Major Gen Arnold Quainoo (Jan 1982 – Jun 1987)
- Major General W.M. Mensah-Wood Jun 87 – Jun 90
- Brigadier Ben K. Akafia (Jun 1990 – Jan 1992)
- Major General Ben K. Akafia (Jan 1992 – Sep 1996)
- Major General J. H. SmithJoseph Henry SmithLieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith is the Minister for Defence of Ghana and a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Army.-Early life and education:...
(Oct 1996 – Feb 2001) - Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (Feb 2001 – Jun 2005)
- Major General Samuel Anum Odotei (20 May 2005 – 2009)
- Major General J.N. Adinkrah (31 Mar 2009–present)
Rank structure
It is similar to the British army ranks structureThey are arranged in descending order:
Officer ranks
- GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- Lieutenant-General
- Major-General
- Brigadier-General
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
- Captain
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
- Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Enlisted ranks
- Chief Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
- Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 1 - Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 2 - Staff SergeantStaff SergeantStaff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
- SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
- CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
- Lance-Corporal
- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Equipment
HP-35 BelgiumS&W .38 No-2 MK-I
H&K MP-5A3
GermanySterling MK-IV
2,300 M-15A2
200 M-15A-2C
7,751 M-16A-2
6,000 M-16A-1
Colt M-4 Carbine
H&K HK-33A
GermanyAKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
AKMS
FN-FAL 0050\L-1A1
Belgium12,000 H&K G-3\ G-3A-1 \ G-3A-3
GermanyModel 500ATP-6 Shoutgun
MAG 60-00 \ L37A-2 Coaxil
BelgiumAA-52
AA-52
The AA-52 is one of the first French-produced guns of the post World War II era. It was manufactured by MAS...
Char No.1
Early Modern FranceBrowning M-1919A-4 \ L-3A-3 \ L-3A-4
Bren MK-II
Browning M-2HB
81mm mortars
120mm mortars Tempella M73
FinlandM-1 \ PASGT \ German 826 \ Marte \ MK-6 Helmets
Germany15 Alvis FV-601 Saladin 76mm 6x6 ARVs-Out of Service
30 Daimler FV-702 Ferret MK-II\II 4x4 ARVs-Out of Service
3 Engesa EE-9 Cascavel
EE-9 Cascavel
The EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...
90mm 6x6 ARVs
Brazil6 Gaz BTR-60
BTR-60
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...
8x8 APCs
M-113 Gevin APCs-with UN units
United NationsSisu XA-180 6x6 APCs-with UN units
Finland United Nations61 Mowag LAV Pirahna 4x4\6x6\8x8 with 30 Oerlikon KAA 204GK 20mm& M-811 25mm guns\Dragar turret
39 Armscor Ratel-20(14)\Ratel-90(25) with 20\90mm guns 6x6 AIFVs\ARVs
South Africa4 Armscor Ratel-81 SPM with 81mm mortar 6x6 APCs
South Africa4 Casspir
Casspir
The Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when...
MPV
South AfricaRinkhals MPV
South Africa20 Tactica APCs
South Africa48 ZFB-05 APCs
Mainland ChinaRM-70
RM-70
The RM-70 multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system that was introduced in 1971 .- Overview :RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for...
122mm MRLs
Czech Republic3 Type -81 122mm MRLs
Mainland China5 Type -63 107mm MRLs
Mainland ChinaD-30 122mm towed howitzers
28 IMI
IMI
IMI is a three letter acronym. It can stand for*Industrial Management Institute* Industrial Vibration Monitoring Instrumentation, division of PCB Piezotronics*Indian Music Industry*Innovative Medicines Initiative of the European Union...
M-65 120mm heavy mortar
EQ1093F6D 5ton trucks
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
obtained independence as Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army. Together with the Ghanaian air force
Ghana Air Force
The Ghana Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. The GAF, along with the Ghanaian Army and Navy, make up the armed forces of Ghana which are controlled by that nation's Ministry of Defence....
and navy
Ghana Navy
The Ghana Navy is the naval force of the West African nation of Ghana. The navy, along with the Ghana Army and Ghana Air Force, make up the Ghana Armed Forces.-History:...
, the Army makes up the Ghana Armed Forces
Military of Ghana
The Ghana Armed Forces consists of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. It is supervised by the Ministry of Defence . With around 7,000 personnel serving in the Ghanian military, Ghana has the lowest ratio of active troops per thousand citizens in the world, standing at 0.33. However, the Ghanaian...
, controlled by The Ministry of Defence and Central Defence Headquarters, both located in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
.
History
The command structure for the army forces in Ghana originally stemmed from the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's West Africa Command
West Africa Command
-History:After the First World War, military forces in the four British West African colonies were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the Royal West African Frontier Force...
. Lieutenant General Lashmer Whistler
Lashmer Whistler
General Sir Lashmer Gordon Whistler GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars, DL , known as Bolo, was a British army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. In the Second World War he achieved senior ranks serving with Field Marshal Montgomery in North Africa and Europe...
was the penultimate commander holding the command from 1951 to 1953. Lt Gen Sir Otway Herbert
Otway Herbert
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Otway Herbert KBE CB DSO was a British Army General who achieved high command in the 1950s.-Military career:...
, who left the West Africa Command in 1955, was the last commander. The command was dissolved on 1 July 1956.
In 1957, the Ghana Army consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron
with armoured cars. Total strength was approximately 5,700 men. Partially due to an over-supply of British officers after the end of the Second World War, only 12% of the officer corps in Ghana, 29 officers out a total of 209 in all, were Ghanaians at independence. Under Major General Alexander Paley, there were almost 200 British officers and 230 warrant officers and senior commissioned officers posted throughout the Ghanaian Army.
Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
wished to rapidly expand and Africanise the army in order to support his Pan-African and anti-colonial ambitions. Thus in 1961, 4th and 5th Battalions were established, and in 1964 6th Battalion was established, from a parachute unit originally raised in 1963. Second Infantry Brigade Group was established in 1961 to command the two battalions raised that year. However, 3rd Battalion was disbanded in February 1961 after an August 1960 mutiny while on Operation des Nations Unies au Congo service at Tshikapa
Tshikapa
Tshikapa is a city in Kasaï District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located about 40 miles north of the Angolan border and 120 miles west of province capital Kananga at the confluence of the Tshikapa and Kasai rivers. According to records published by the Utrecht University...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The changeover from British to Ghanaian officers meant a sudden lowering of experience levels. The Ghanaian commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel David Hansen, had on appointment as battalion commander only seven years of military experience, compared to the more normal twenty years' of experience for battalion commanders in Western armies. He was badly beaten by his troops during the mutiny. 4th Battalion was raised under a British commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Cairns, from the single company of the 3rd Battalion that had not mutinied.
Initial British planning by Paley before his departure in 1959 had provided for all British officers to be withdrawn by 1970; however, under pressure from Nkrumah, Paley's successor Major General Henry Alexander
Henry Templer Alexander
Major General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
revised the plans, seeing all British personnel to depart by 1962. However, in September 1961, Alexander and all other
British officers and men serving with the Ghanaian armed forces were abruptedly dismissed. Nkrumah was determined to indigenize his armed forces fully, after some years of accelerated promotion of Ghanaian personnel.
Simon Baynham says that “the wholesale shambles which surely must have resulted from simply expelling the expatriate contract and seconded officers was averted by the arrival of Canadian military technicians and training officers.” Canadian training team personnel were assigned to the Military Academy (1961-1968), the Military Hospital, as Brigade Training Officers (1961-1968), to the air force, and later the Ministry of Defence (1963-1968), Ghana Army Headquarters (1963-1968) and the Airborne School.
Matters deteriorated further after the coup that deposed Nkrumah. In July 1967, Canadian Colonel James Bond, the Canadian military attache, asked to write a report on how Canada could further assist the Ghanaian armed forces, wrote that 'during 1966 the preoccupation of.. senior officers with their civilian duties as members of the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
and as regional administrators, resulted in an unconscious neglect of the welfare of the Army.' Available able intermediate level officers had been assigned civilian administrative duties, leaving the army short.
Ghana has contributed forces to numerous UN and ECOWAS operations, including in the Congo, Lebanon, and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
(ECOMOG and UNMIL). Ghana contributed UN peacekeepers in UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian force commander Romeo Dallaire gave the Ghanaian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict.
The Ghanaian contingent lost 3 soldiers in the conflict.
Structure
The Ghana army is divided into two brigade sized "commands":- Northern Command (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
(3rd Infantry Battalion (3Bn)), KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
(4th Infantry Battalion (4Bn)), and TamaleTamaleA tamale — or more correctly tamal — is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa , which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating...
(6th Infantry Battalion (6Bn)) - The Airborne Force (ABF) in Tamale (One company sized formation each in Upper West and Upper East regions respectively)
- 2nd Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron in Sunyani
- 2nd Signal Squadron in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Workshop in Kumasi
- 2n Field Ambulance in Kumasi
- 2nd Transport Company in Kumasi
- 2nd Field Operations Center in Kumasi
- 3x light infantry battalions at Sunyani
- Southern Command (AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
)- 3x light infantry battalions at TemaTemaTema is a city on the Atlantic coast of Ghana, lying east of the Ghanaian capital city, Accra, in the region of Greater Accra. As of 2005, Tema had a population of 209,000. The Greenwich Meridian passes directly through the city...
(1st Infantry Battalion (1Bn)), Takoradi (2nd Infantry Battalion (2Bn)), and AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
(5th Infantry Battalion (5Bn))) - 64th Infantry Regiment (Rapid Reaction Battalion) in Accra
- Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment in Accra
- 66th Artillery Regiment in HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
- 48th Engineer Regiment in TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
- 1st Field Workshop in Accra
- 1 Motor Transport Battalion (1MT)
- 3x light infantry battalions at Tema
Infantry
The Ghanaian Army consists of three distinct infantry elements:- Ghana RegimentGhana RegimentThe Ghana Regiment is an infantry regiment that forms the main fighting element of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was formed in 1879 as the Gold Coast Constabulary, from personnel of the Hausa Constabulary of Southern Nigeria, to perform internal security and police duties in the British colony of...
- The major element of the army is the six light infantryLight infantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalions of the Ghana Regiment. Three battalions are assigned to each brigade. - Airborne Force - The Airborne Force (ABF) is a battalion sized formation including a parachute trained company assigned to the Northern Command.
- 64 Infantry RegimentPresident's Own Guard RegimentThe President's Own Guard Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was founded in 1960 as the Presidential Guard Regiment following Ghana's independence, when Kwame Nkrumah increased the Presidential Bodyguard from a company to a full regiment...
- 64 Infantry Regiment is the commando trained rapid reaction force assigned to the Southern Command.
Combat Support
- Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron (SunyaniSunyaniSunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
) - Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment
- 48 Engineer Regiment (TeshieTeshieTeshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
, AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
region) - 49 Engineer Regiment
- 66 Artillery Regiment (Volta Barracks, HoHo, GhanaHo is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
; formed 2003 from previous Medium Mortar Regiment) - Signals Regiment (KumasiKumasiKumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
) - LogisticsLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
Group
Chiefs of the Army Staff
The head of the Ghana Army was formerly referred to as the army commander but now has the title above. The list of former heads lies below.- Brigadier D. H. Tadman – Brigade Commander
- Major General A. G. V. Paley (? – 1960) - First designated army commander
- Major General Henry Templer AlexanderHenry Templer AlexanderMajor General Henry Templer Alexander was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.-Education:Major General Alexander attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. He then received military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.-Career:Major General Alexander was commissioned...
(1960 – 1961) - combined CDS with army commander - Brigadier Joseph Arthur AnkrahJoseph Arthur AnkrahLieutenant General Joseph Arthur Ankrah served as the first commander of the Army of Ghana and from 1966 and 1969 as the second head of state.-Early life:...
(Dec 1961 – Oct 1962) - first native Ghanaian commander) - Major General S. J. A. OtuStephen OtuMajor General Stephen J. A. Otu is a former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was the first Ghanaian officer to serve in this capacity.-Career:...
(Oct 1962 – Jul 1965) - Brigadier A. K. Ocran (Feb 1966 – Aug 1966)
- Major General Cleland Cofie Bruce (Aug 1966 – May 1967)
- Major General A. K. OcranAlbert Kwesi OcranLieutenant General Albert Kwesi Ocran is a soldier and politician. He was a member of the Presidential Commission of Ghana between 1969 and 1970...
(May 1967 – Nov 1968) - Brigadier D. C. K. Amenu (Nov 1968 – Aug 1969)
- Major General D. K. Addo (Aug 1969 – Jun 1971)
- Brigadier J. R. K. Acquah (Jun 1971 – Oct 1971)
- Brigadier H. D. Twum-Barimah (Oct 1971 – Jan 1972)
- Colonel Emmanuel Alexander ErskineEmmanuel ErskineLieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine is a retired Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana army...
(Jan 1972 – Feb 1972) - Brigadier D. A. Asare (Feb 1972 – Jan 1973)
- Brigadier E. A. Erskine (Feb 1973 – Apr 1974)
- Brigadier Fred W. K. AkuffoFred AkuffoLieutenant General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo was a soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Head of state and chairman of the ruling Supreme Military Council in Ghana from 1978 to 1979...
(May 1974 – Nov 1976) - Brigadier and later Major General Robert KoteiRobert KoteiMajor General Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei was a soldier, politician and track and field athlete. He was once the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and also a member of the Supreme Military Council which ruled Ghana between 1975 and 1979. He was executed in 1979, following a...
(Nov 1976 – Jul 1978) - Major General Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington (Jul 1978 – Jun 1979) - died in office
- Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-MensahJoseph Nunoo-MensahBrigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which overthrew the government of Dr...
- Brigadier Arnold Quainoo (Jul 1979 - Nov 1979)
- Brigadier I. K. Amoah (Nov 1979 – Dec 1981)
- Brigadier/Major Gen Arnold Quainoo (Jan 1982 – Jun 1987)
- Major General W.M. Mensah-Wood Jun 87 – Jun 90
- Brigadier Ben K. Akafia (Jun 1990 – Jan 1992)
- Major General Ben K. Akafia (Jan 1992 – Sep 1996)
- Major General J. H. SmithJoseph Henry SmithLieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith is the Minister for Defence of Ghana and a former Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Army.-Early life and education:...
(Oct 1996 – Feb 2001) - Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (Feb 2001 – Jun 2005)
- Major General Samuel Anum Odotei (20 May 2005 – 2009)
- Major General J.N. Adinkrah (31 Mar 2009–present)
Rank structure
It is similar to the British army ranks structureThey are arranged in descending order:
Officer ranks
- GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- Lieutenant-General
- Major-General
- Brigadier-General
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
- Captain
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
- Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Enlisted ranks
- Chief Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
- Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 1 - Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 2 - Staff SergeantStaff SergeantStaff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
- SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
- CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
- Lance-Corporal
- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Equipment
HP-35 BelgiumS&W .38 No-2 MK-I
H&K MP-5A3
GermanySterling MK-IV
2,300 M-15A2
200 M-15A-2C
7,751 M-16A-2
6,000 M-16A-1
Colt M-4 Carbine
H&K HK-33A
GermanyAKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
AKMS
FN-FAL 0050\L-1A1
Belgium12,000 H&K G-3\ G-3A-1 \ G-3A-3
GermanyModel 500ATP-6 Shoutgun
MAG 60-00 \ L37A-2 Coaxil
BelgiumAA-52
AA-52
The AA-52 is one of the first French-produced guns of the post World War II era. It was manufactured by MAS...
Char No.1
Early Modern FranceBrowning M-1919A-4 \ L-3A-3 \ L-3A-4
Bren MK-II
Browning M-2HB
81mm mortars
120mm mortars Tempella M73
FinlandM-1 \ PASGT \ German 826 \ Marte \ MK-6 Helmets
Germany15 Alvis FV-601 Saladin 76mm 6x6 ARVs-Out of Service
30 Daimler FV-702 Ferret MK-II\II 4x4 ARVs-Out of Service
3 Engesa EE-9 Cascavel
EE-9 Cascavel
The EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...
90mm 6x6 ARVs
Brazil6 Gaz BTR-60
BTR-60
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...
8x8 APCs
M-113 Gevin APCs-with UN units
United NationsSisu XA-180 6x6 APCs-with UN units
Finland United Nations61 Mowag LAV Pirahna 4x4\6x6\8x8 with 30 Oerlikon KAA 204GK 20mm& M-811 25mm guns\Dragar turret
39 Armscor Ratel-20(14)\Ratel-90(25) with 20\90mm guns 6x6 AIFVs\ARVs
South Africa4 Armscor Ratel-81 SPM with 81mm mortar 6x6 APCs
South Africa4 Casspir
Casspir
The Casspir is a landmine-protected personnel carrier that has been in use in South Africa for over 20 years. It is a four wheeled armoured vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated gear. The Casspir was unique in design when...
MPV
South AfricaRinkhals MPV
South Africa20 Tactica APCs
South Africa48 ZFB-05 APCs
Mainland ChinaRM-70
RM-70
The RM-70 multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system that was introduced in 1971 .- Overview :RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for...
122mm MRLs
Czech Republic3 Type -81 122mm MRLs
Mainland China5 Type -63 107mm MRLs
Mainland ChinaD-30 122mm towed howitzers
28 IMI
IMI
IMI is a three letter acronym. It can stand for*Industrial Management Institute* Industrial Vibration Monitoring Instrumentation, division of PCB Piezotronics*Indian Music Industry*Innovative Medicines Initiative of the European Union...
M-65 120mm heavy mortar
EQ1093F6D 5ton trucks{
Mainland ChinaLand Rover Defender 4x4
20-50 Carl Gustav M-2-550 84mm
Sweden RCLs20 RPG-7V Light ATRLs
100 Law MK-80 Light ATRLs
4-16 ZPU-4
ZPU-4
The ZPU-4 is a towed, quadruple-barreled anti-aircraft gun based on the Soviet KPV 14.5 mm machine gun. It entered service with the Soviet Union in 1949 and is used by over 50 countries worldwide...
4x4 KPV 14.5mm AAG
4-8 ZU-23-2
ZU-23-2
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka - anti-aircraft mount.-Development history:...
23mm AAGs
SA-7B Strela-II MANPADs
External sources
- Official Website of the Ghana Armed Forces
- Lt Col Festus B Aboagye, The Ghana Army: A Concise Contemporary Guide to its Centennial Regimental History, 1897–1999, Sedco Publishing, Accra, 1999