Ghana Army: History, Ranks, Salary and Recruitment Details
Ghana’s armed forces are made up of the Ghana army, Ghana Navy, and the Ghana Air Forces. The president of the nation is the Supreme military commander of the Border Guard Unit(BGU).
Who Formed The Ghana Armed Forces And When Was It Formed?
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was the first prime minister and president of Ghana. He formed the Ghana Armed Forces in 1957 after the country gained independence from colonial rule. Dr Kwame Nkrumah wished to rapidly expand and Africanise the army in order to support his Pan-African and anti-colonial ambitions.
The Units In The Ghana Army
The units in the Ghana Army include Army Headquarters, Northern and Southern Commands, a Support Service Brigade, and five Combat Support Units that make up the Army’s organizational structure. The garrisons in Kumasi, Sunyani, and Tamale are part of the Northern Command, whereas Accra, Tema, and Takoradi are part of the Southern Command.
The Ranks In The Ghana Army
General is the highest position in the Ghanaian army’s ten officer levels, with Second Lieutenant being the lowest. Checkout the full list of officers below;
1.General(5 stars)
2.Lieutenant General(4 stars)
3.Major General(3 stars)
4.Brigadier General(2 stars)
5.Colonel(1 star)
6. Lieutenant Colonel
7. Major
8. Captain
9. Lieutenant
10. Second Lieutenant – [Lowest Rank]
Below is the list of ranks in the Ghana Army;
1. Chief Warrant Officer
2. Warrant Officer Class I.
3. Warrant Officer Class II.
4. Staff Sergeant.
5. Sergeant.
6. Corporal.
7. Lance-corporal.
8. Private.
9. Recruit – [Lowest Rank
The Salaries Of The Ghana Army
The Ghana Army’s organizational structure is determined by your military rank. In other words, your salary goes high as your rank does. The level of duty increases with rank. The salary of the Ghana Army is not made public, we are able to find out that the lowest-ranked officer earns GHc1000 each month. The men and women of the Ghana Army do, however, get some allowances and bonuses. However, the highest allowances are reduced for the highest-ranked officers. The lowest paid private is an E1 and makes GHc9,893.57 a month. A soldier can earn up to GHc11,089.27 per month once they are classified as an E2 private.
A private first class with an E3 designation costs GHc11,662.86 per month to start and rises to GHc12,394.84 per month after two years.
How Long Does The Military Training Last?
The first training for new recruits to the Ghanaian Armed Forces lasts 14 weeks and is divided into an 8-week combat course and a 6-week basic training session that culminates in the oathing ceremony. Following that, they move on to speciality training, which can span anywhere between 4 and 42 weeks. Entrance to the academy is by examination, and the curriculum includes military and general subjects.
