Ghana Navy

Ghana Navy
Founded 29 July 1959 – present
(56 years, 6 months)
Country  Ghana
Allegiance Constitution of Ghana
Branch GAF Navy Military Branch
Type Navy
Role
Part of GAF; Ghanaian Ministry of Defence and GN Central Defence Headquarters
GN HQ Tema Metropolis, Greater Accra, Ghana
Colors Ultramarine, Iceberg and Blue-Gray             
Commanders
Chiefs of the Naval Staff Rear Admiral Geoffrey Mawuli Biekro
Insignia
Naval Ensign 1957−1964
1966−present
Naval Ensign 1964−1966

The Ghana Navy (GN) is the naval warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). The Ghanaian navy, along with the Ghanaian army (GA) and Ghanaian air force (GHF), make up the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) which are controlled by the Ghanaian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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 Captain D. A. Foreman, a retired British Naval Officer. He was granted a Presidential Commission as a Ghana naval officer in the rank of Commodore.[2] In September 1961 Nkrumah terminated the employment of British officers in the armed forces: the first Ghanaian to become Chief of the Naval Staff was Rear Admiral David Anumle Hansen, who was transferred from the Ghana army to head the navy.

Organization

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

Western Naval Command

Ghana Navy sailor a in Rigid-hulled inflatable boat

The command comprises the following elements:[1]

Eastern Naval Command

Members of the Ghanaian Navy learning maritime law-enforcement tactics

The command comprises the following elements:[1]

Departments

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

Roles

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

Current active Naval Vessels

Snake Class Patrol Vessels

46.8m patrol vessels ordered from China's Poly Technologies subsidiary of China Poly Group Corporation in 2011 and delivered to GN (Ghana Navy) in October 2011. The boats were commissioned 21 February 2012.[3]

 Name   Pennant   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Status 
GNS Blika P34 Qingdao Qianjin Shipyard, China 1 April 2011? 21 Feb 2012 Active
GNS Garinga P35 Qingdao Qianjin Shipyard, China 1 April 2011? 21 Feb 2012 Active
GNS Chemle P36 Qingdao Qianjin Shipyard, China 1 April 2011? 21 Feb 2012 Active
GNS Ehwor P37 Qingdao Qianjin Shipyard, China 1 April 2011? 21 Feb 2012 Active

Balsam Class Patrol Ships

U. S. Coast Guard vessels. After serving the USCG for 57 years, Woodrush was decommissioned on March 2, 2001 and sold to GN (Ghana Navy) to serve as GNS Anzone P30.

 Name   Pennant   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Transferred   Status   ex 
GNS Anzone (~shark) P30 Marine Iron & Ship Builders 28 April 1944 22 September 1944 2001 Active USCGC Woodrush (WLB-407)
GNS Bonsu (~whale) P31 Marine Iron & Ship Builders 31 December 1943 26 July 1944 2001 Active USCGC Sweetbrier (WLB-401)

Chamsuri Class Patrol Boat

Republic of Korea Navy vessels. Chamsuri means 'Sea Dolphin'.

 Name   Pennant   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Transferred   Status   ex 
GNS Stephen Otu P33 Korea Tacoma, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanjin Heavy Industries July 1980 21 January 2011 Active PKM 237
BRP Dioniso Ojeda (PG-117) of the Philippine Navy similar to the GNS Stephen Otu (P33)

Albatros Class Fast Attack Craft

German navy. Purchased in 2005 at $35 million for the two ships.

 Name   Pennant   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Transferred   Status   ex 
GNS Sebo (~leopard) P27 Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co 19 September 1979 2 May 1980 2010 Active
GNS Dzata (~lion) P31 Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co 19 September 1979 4 December 1979 2010 Active

Warrior class/Gepard Class Fast Attack Craft

German navy S74 Nerz and S77 Dachs. Purchased at $37 million for the two ships.[4]

 Name   Pennant   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Transferred   Status   ex 
GNS Yaa Asantewaa Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co 14 July 1983 31 July 2012[5] Active
GNS Naa Gbewaa Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co 22 March 1984 31 July 2012[5] Active

USCG Defender Class Boat

USCG Defender Class Boat

U. S. Coast Guard. In 2008, the Ghana Navy acquired three such boats from the US navy. They were handed over to the GN Western Naval Command in Sekondi-Takoradi. On 13 March 2010, presented 4 additional boats.

Others

Past Naval Vessels

The initial fleet of the navy consisted of two Ham class minesweepers, GNS Yogaga and GNS Afadzato. They were re-commissioned on 31 October 1959.[6]

Future Plans

The Ghanaian Defence Minister, Lieutenant General J. H. Smith, announced in June 2010 that over 10 ships would be acquired as part of a short-term plan to re-equip the navy, and defend Ghana's exclusive economic zone.

Substantive Chiefs of the Naval Staff

There have been 16 heads of the Ghana navy since its inception. One officer, Rear Admiral Dzang served two terms.[7]

Rear Admiral
C.K. Dzang
Rear Admiral
David Animle Hansen

Rank structure

Officers

The GN officers in descending order of seniority:[11]

Ratings

The GN ratings in descending order of seniority:[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Historical Background of The Ghana Navy". Official website. Ghana Armed Forces. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  2. ↑ S. Addoe, General History of Ghana Armed Forces: a reference volume, 2005, pp.466-7
  3. ↑ Navy to secure countrys maritime boundaries. ghana.gov.gh.
  4. ↑ Germany delivers two of its decommissioned FACs to the Armed Forces of Ghana. Germanydefence.com
  5. 1 2 Ghana navy takes delivery of two German fast attack craft, maritime security
  6. ↑ "The Security Services" (PDF). National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 4 Chapter 1. Ghana government. October 2004. pp. 3 & 4. Archived from the original (pdf) on October 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  7. ↑ "Past Chiefs of Naval Staff 1959 - 2000". Official website. Ghana Armed Forces. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  8. ↑ "Immediate Past Chief of Naval Staff - Ghana Navy". Official website. Ghana Armed Forces. 22 April 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  9. ↑ "Chief of Naval Staff - Ghana Navy". Official website (Ghana Armed Forces). 21 May 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  10. ↑ "Profile of Rear Admiral GM Biekro Chief of the Naval Staff – Ghana Navy". Official website (Ghana Armed Forces). 24 April 2014. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  11. 1 2 "Ghana - Republic of Ghana Navy". The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia around the world. WORLD INSIGNIA COLLECTORS UNION. Retrieved 2007-06-11.

External links

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