Ghana Navy

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Ghana Navy
Naval Ensign of Ghana
Active
Country	Ghana
Part of	Ghanaian Ministry of Defence and Central Defence Headquarters
Naval Headquarters	Burma Camp, Accra

The Ghana Navy (GN) 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Organization 2.1 Western Naval Command 2.2 Eastern Naval Command 2.3 Departments 3 Roles 4 Vessels 5 Substantive Chiefs of the Naval Staff 6 Acting Chiefs of the Naval Staff 7 Rank structure 7.1 Officers 7.2 Ratings 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

The nucleus of the Ghana Navy is the Gold Coast Naval Volunteer Force formed during World War II. It was established by the colonial British administration to conduct seaward patrols to ensure that the coastal waters of the colony were free from mines. Following Ghana's attainment of independent nationhood on 6 March 1957 from the UK, the country's military was reorganized and expanded to meet its new challenges. A new volunteer force was raised in June, 1959 with headquarters at Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. The men were drawn from the existing Gold Coast Regiment of Infantry. They were under the command of British Royal Navy officers on secondment. On 29 July 1959, the Ghana Navy was established by an Act of Parliament. The force had two divisions based at Takoradi and Accra respectively.^[1] On 1 May 1962, the British Navy formed the Royal Navy Element of the British Joint Services Training Team, thus changing the nature of its relationship with the Ghana Navy. The first Chief of the Naval Staff was Commodore D. A. Foreman, a retired British Naval Officer. He was granted a Presidential Commission as a Ghana naval officer in that rank. The first Ghanaian to become Chief of the Naval Staff was Rear Admiral David Anumle Hansen. He was transferred from the Ghana army to head the navy. The initial fleet of the navy consisted of two Ham class minesweepers, GNS Yogaga and GNS Afadzato from the British Government. They were re-commissioned on 31 October 1959.^[2]

[edit] Organization

The Ghana Navy command structure consists of the Naval Headquarters at Burma Camp, Accra. There are two operational commands, the Eastern Naval Command at Tema and the Western Naval Command at Sekondi.

[edit] Western Naval Command

The command comprises the following elements:^[1]

• Ghana Navy Fleet
• The Naval Dockyard Complex
• Ghana Navy Stores Depot
• Naval Base, Sekondi
• The Naval Trade Training School

[edit] Eastern Naval Command

The command comprises the following elements:^[1]

• Basic and Leadership Training School
• Naval Base,Tema
• Ghana Navy Band

[edit] Departments

The navy is organized into the following departments.^[1]

• Operations
• Training
• Administration
• Logistics (Supply)
• Technical
• Intelligence and
• Research and Development.

[edit] Roles

The Ghana Navy fulfils a broad range of roles. These include:^[1]

• The monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities.
• Peace Support Operations in the West African sub-region by regularly re-supplying Ghana's ECOMOG contingent.
• Maritime Presence in the West African Waters and Naval Support in the Region and Crises Areas when requested.
• Surveillance, Effective Patrol and Control of Ghana's Territorial Waters and Economic Zone.
• Evacuation operations of Ghanaian and other nationals from troubled spots.
• Fighting and checking criminal activities such as piracy/armed robbery at sea, smuggling of illicit drugs, stowaways and dissident activities.
• Disaster and humanitarian relief operations, search and rescue, and other mercy missions at sea.
• Assisting civil authorities such as the Ghana Police, the Volta River Authority, the Electoral Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

[edit] Vessels

The following are a list of some Ghana Navy ships and the meanings of their names.^[3]

• GNS Achimota (P28) - Flagship of the Ghana Navy
• GNS Anzone (P30) - ("Anzone" means "shark" in Akan)
• GNS Yogaga (P29) - ("Yogaga" means "high mountain" in Krobo)
• GNS Sebo (P27) - ("Sebo" means "leopard" in Akan)
• GNS Bonsu (P31) - ("Bonsu" means "whale" in Akan)
• GNS David Hansen - named after David Animle Hansen, first Ghanaian Chief of Staff of the Ghana Navy.
• GNS Dzata (P26) - ("Dzata" means "Lion" in Akan Ewe and Ga)

[edit] Substantive Chiefs of the Naval Staff

• Commodore D. A. Foreman (Jan 1959 – Jun 1961)
• Rear Admiral David Animle Hansen (Sep 1961 – Jun 1967) - First Ghanaian Chief of Naval Staff
• Commodore P.F. Quaye(Apr 1968 – May 1972)
• Commodore C.K. Dzang (Feb 1973 – Aug 1974)
• Rear Admiral C.K. Dzang (Jul 1975 – Jun 1977) - Member of SMCI
• Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume (Jun 1977 – Jun 1979) - Member of SMCII
• Commodore Stephen Obimpeh (Jul 1979 – Dec 1981)
• Commodore Joe Danso Oppong (Feb 1982 – Jul 1985)
• Rear Admiral Benjamin Ohene-Kwapong (Aug 1985 – Jun 1990)
• Rear Admiral Tom Annan (Jun 1990 – Sept 1997)
• Vice Admiral E.O. Owusu-Ansah (Oct 1997 – Mar 2001)^[4]
• Rear Admiral John Kodzo Gbenah(Mar 2001 – May 2005)^[5]
• Rear Admiral Arthur Riby Sampa Nunoo(May 2005 – present)^[6]

[edit] Acting Chiefs of the Naval Staff

• Air Vice Marshal M.A Otu (Jun 1967 – Mar 1968) - Acted in place of Rear Admiral David Anumle Hansen.
• Commander Joy Kobla Amedume (May 1972 – Jan 1973)- Acted in place of Commodore P.F. Quaye.
• Commander G.Bedu-Addo (Aug 1974 – Jul 1975))- Acted in place of Commodore C.K.Dzang.
• Commander Keith Dadzie - Acted briefly during PNDC Revolution in 1979
• Commander J.W.Boateng - Acted briefly during PNDC Revolution in 1979

[edit] Rank structure

[edit] Officers

In descending order of seniority:^[7]

• Admiral
• Vice-Admiral
• Rear-Admiral
• Commodore
• Captain
• Commander
• Lieutenant Commander
• Lieutenant
• Sub-Lieutenant
• Acting Sub-Lieutenant

[edit] Ratings

In descending order of seniority:^[7]

• Master Chief Petty Officer
• Petty Officer Class I
• Petty Officer Class II
• Leading Seaman
• Able Seaman class I
• Able Seaman class II

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ghana Navy uniform insignia
• Picture of GNS Anzone and GNS Achimota

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