Ghana Armed Forces
The Ghana Armed Forces are the armed forces of the Republic of Ghana with a total strength of 11,637 military personnel. According to another source, the total strength of the Ghana Armed Forces, however, is reduced to a total of 7,000 members since the mid 1990s, which would also reflect the current staffing levels. The Ghana Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Presidential Guard and Civil Defence. The Defense Ministry and the central headquarters are based in Accra.
History
The Ghanaian military has repeatedly torn in the five decades of independence of Ghana through military coups power for themselves. By the end of the presidency of Jerry Rawlings, the military held a far more important role than other security forces, such as the police. Today, under President Kufuor, the military has hardly any meaning, the police forces are significantly strengthened.
The weapons of the Ghanaian troops are older models mainly British origin. Government expenditure on the military are very low, which is also noticeable to the equipment.
The military leadership
The Land Forces
In March 2000, the leadership of the land forces of Ghana was reorganized and divided into a Northern and Southern Command. The army Ghana currently has 5,000 troops and is divided into the following units:
The troops are equipped with 50 armored personnel carriers of the type Piranha, mortars of caliber 81 mm to 120 mm and anti-tank weapons of the type FFV Carl Gustaf and RPG 7th
The Air Forces
The Air Force (Air Force) have their headquarters and main supply base in Accra. This military unit has a strength of about 1,000 men. In Tamale is a training and combat base, a training base in Takoradi and Kumasi in a supply basis.
The Navy
The naval units protect the waters in Germany ( Lake Volta ) and the fishing interests and military zones in the Atlantic. Currently, the Navy has a troop strength of approximately 1,000 men in 2003. In March 2000, the management level of the Marine Ghana was reorganized and divided into an eastern and western command.
International peace missions
In a variety of international peacekeeping troops have been abgeordert. For example, in the following peace missions of the past and ongoing missions:
- United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea ( UNMEE) ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea)
- United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL ) ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Liberia)
- United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL ) ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone)
- Mission des Nations Unies pour l' Organisation d'un Referendum au Sahara occidental ( MINURSO ) - ( the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)
- Mission de l' Organisation des Nations Unies en République Démocratique du Congo (MONUC ) - ( the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo)
- United Nations Operation in Burundi ( ONUB ) ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Burundi)
- United Nations Operation in Côte d' Ivoire ( UNOCI ) ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast )
- Interim United Nations force in Lebanon ( UNIFIL)
- United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK ) - ( the United Nations Mission in Kosovo )
The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre ( KAIPTC ) was established near Accra and serves the education and training of personnel for the peace mission. Here about 1000 people from the military, the police or justice from Ghana and other West African countries in the implementation of peace missions are trained each year. The speakers experienced volunteers from all over the world are engaged in peacekeeping missions. In 2002 this Peace Center was opened with the participation of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.