John Odaate - Barnor
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal John E. Odaate-Barnor (born 30 May 1937) is a retired Ghanaian soldier
and diplomat
. He was a former Chief of Defence Staff
of the Ghana Armed Forces. He served in this capacity from 7 December 1979 till 31 December 1981.
, the capital city of Ghana
. His primary education
was at the Presbyterian Primary School, Mpraeso
. He proceeded to the Presbyterian Middle School at Abetifi, which he completed in 1951. His secondary education
was at the Abuakwa State College at Kibi
in the Eastern Region
of Ghana. He graduated in 1955.
in August 1961 in the United Kingdom
. He was commissioned on 20th January 1961. After his return to Ghana from Canada
where he had further training, he was based at the Air Force Base at Takoradi in the Western Region
. He became Garrison Commander in 1972. After his diplomatic service, he was appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College in 1977, the second person to hold this position. He became the Air Force Commander in May 1979. He was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in May 1980 by the Limann government
.
, Turkey
and Malta
between 1972 and 1977 until he was recalled to Ghana during the era of the National Redemption Council
military government.
and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tema Development Corporation between 1977 to March 1981. He has also served as the Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana
.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He was a former Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces. He is thus responsible for the administration and the operational control and command of the Ghana military. The Ghana Army was formed after World War II out of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African...
of the Ghana Armed Forces. He served in this capacity from 7 December 1979 till 31 December 1981.
Early life and education
Odaate-Barnor was born in AccraAccra
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...
, the capital city of 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...
. His primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
was at the Presbyterian Primary School, Mpraeso
Mpraeso
Mpraeso is the capital of the Kwahu South District in Ghana, located at an altitude of 367 m on the Kwahu Plateau, which forms the south-west boundary of Lake Volta. Mpraeso is about three hours' drive north-west from Accra...
. He proceeded to the Presbyterian Middle School at Abetifi, which he completed in 1951. His secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
was at the Abuakwa State College at Kibi
Kibi
Kibi may refer to:* kibi, one of the binary prefixes for units of digital information* Kibi District, Okayama is a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan...
in the Eastern Region
Eastern Region (Ghana)
The Eastern Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It covers an area of 19,323 square kilometres, which is about 8.1% of Ghana's total land area. The region is divided into administrative districts. The total number of districts were increased from 17 districts to 21...
of Ghana. He graduated in 1955.
Army career
He was one of the first to enlist in the Air Force Cadet in July 1959 and completed his training with the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in August 1961 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was commissioned on 20th January 1961. After his return to Ghana from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he had further training, he was based at the Air Force Base at Takoradi in the Western Region
Western Region (Ghana)
The Western Region of Ghana, reaching from the Côte d'Ivoire border in the west to the Central Region in the east, includes the large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points,...
. He became Garrison Commander in 1972. After his diplomatic service, he was appointed Commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College in 1977, the second person to hold this position. He became the Air Force Commander in May 1979. He was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in May 1980 by the Limann government
Limann government
This is a listing of the ministers who served in Limann's People's National Party government during the Third Republic of Ghana. The Third Republic was inaugurated on 24 September 1979. It ended with the coup on 31 December 1981, which brought the Provisional National Defence Council of Jerry...
.
Diplomatic service
He served as Ghana's ambassador to ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
between 1972 and 1977 until he was recalled to Ghana during the era of the National Redemption Council
National Redemption Council
The National Redemption Council was the ruling Ghana military government in from January 13, 1972 to October 9, 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.-Duration of rule:...
military government.
Other activities
John Odaate - Barnor also served as a member of the Council of the University of GhanaUniversity of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tema Development Corporation between 1977 to March 1981. He has also served as the Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana
Veterans Association of Ghana
The Veterans Association of Ghana is an association of former servicemen and women of the Gold Coast Regiment and the Ghana Armed Forces.It started originally as the Gold Coast Legion was formed in 1944 as a branch of what was then known as the British Empire Services League. It is now the Royal...
.