Ghana Navy

Naval warfare branch of Ghanaian armed forces

Ghana Navy

Founded| 29 July 1959
(66 years)
Country|  Ghana
Type| Navy
Role| Naval warfare
Part of| Ghana Armed Forces
GN HQ| Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Colors| Ultramarine, Iceberg and Blue-Gray
Engagements| First Liberian Civil War
Commanders
Chiefs of the Naval Staff| Vice Admiral Issah Yakubu
Insignia
Naval Ensign 1957−1964
1966−present|
Naval Ensign 1964−1966|

Military unit

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

[edit]

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 Animle Hansen, who was transferred from the Ghana army to head the navy. On September 14 1990, the GNS Achimota was hit by NPFL artillery while on a fact-finding mission near Monrovia. As a result, 2 Ghanaian sailors and 3 Nigerian nurses were killed, and the Ghanaian Air Force retaliated with airstrikes.[3]

## Organization

[edit]

The Ghana Navy command structure consists of the Naval Headquarters at Burma Camp, Accra. There are three operational commands, the Western Naval Command at Sekondi, the Eastern Naval Command at Tema and The Naval Training Command at Nutekpor-Sogakope in the Volta Region.

### Western Naval Command

[edit]

Ghana Navy sailor a in rigid-hulled inflatable boat

The command comprises the following elements:[1]

* HQ Western Naval Command
* Ghana Navy Fleet
* The Naval Dockyard Complex
* Ghana Navy Stores Depot
* Naval Base, Sekondi – West Command
* The Naval Trade Training School

### Eastern Naval Command

[edit]

Members of the Ghanaian Navy learning maritime law-enforcement tactics

The command comprises the following elements:[1]

* HQ Eastern Naval Command
* Basic and Leadership Training School
* Naval Base, Tema
* Ghana Navy Band, Tema[4]

### Departments

[edit]

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

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

## Roles

[edit]

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

* The monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities
* 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

## Equipment

[edit]

### Current active naval vessels

[edit]

#### Snake-class patrol vessels

[edit]

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.[5]

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

[edit]

The patrol ship GNS Anzone (P30) with GNS Achimota (P28) in the Gulf of Guinea in October 2005.

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-405)

#### Chamsuri-class patrol boat

[edit]

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  |

#### Albatros-class fast attack craft

[edit]

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

[edit]

German navy S74 Nerz and S77 Dachs. Purchased at $37 million for the two ships.[6]

Name |  Class |  Type |  Pennant |  Builder |  Launched |  Commissioned |  Transferred |  Status |  ex

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

GNS Yaa Asantewaa | Gepard-class | Fast attack craft |  | Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co  |  | 14 July 1983  | 31 July 2012[7] | Active  |
GNS Naa Gbewaa | Gepard-class | Fast attack craft |  | Fr Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co  |  | 22 March 1984  | 31 July 2012[7] | Active  |

#### River Class

[edit]

Name |  Pennant |  Type |  Builder |  Launched |  Commissioned |  Transferred |  Status

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

GNS Pra |  | offshore patrol vessel | Penguin Ship Yard  |  | 22 February 2022  |  | Active[8][9]
GNS Densu |  | offshore patrol vessel | Penguin Ship Yard  |  | 22 February 2022  |  | Active[8][9]
GNS Volta |  | offshore patrol vessel | Penguin Ship Yard  |  | 22 February 2022  |  | Active[8][9]
GNS Ankobra |  | offshore patrol vessel | Penguin Ship Yard  |  | 22 February 2022  |  | Active[8][9]

#### USCG Defender-class boat

[edit]

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 four additional boats.

#### Others

[edit]

* GNS Achimota (P28) – Flagship of the Ghana Navy. German built FPB 57-class patrol ship (Launched: 14 March 1979, commissioned: 27 March 1981)
* GNS Yogaga (P29) – German-built FPB 57-class patrol ship (1979)
* GNS David Hansen – Named after David Animle Hansen, first Ghanaian Chief of Staff of the Ghana Navy. A single 20 m-long ex-US Navy PB Mk III inshore patrol craft that was built in the 1970s and transferred to Ghana in 2001.
* NAVDOCK 1 – Ghana's first indigenous landing craft.[10]
* On 10 December 2010, the Ghana Navy received six new speedboats with complete accessories from Ghana Red Cross to facilitate its rescue mission in the country. The accessories included six Yamaha outboard motors, life jackets, life lines, first aid equipment and maintenance tools.
* GNS Achimota (2024) \- Largest ship in the Ghana Navy. Built by Kurinoura Shipbuilding[11] in Yawatahama[12]Yawatahama, Ehime Prefecture[13]Ehime Prefecture, Japan[14]Japan (Commissioned 23 December 2024)[15][2]

### Past naval vessels

[edit]

The initial fleet of the navy consisted of two Ham-class minesweepers, GNS Yogaga and GNS Afadzato. They were recommissioned on 31 October 1959. They were joined by four T43-class minesweepers from the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1964, three Komar-class missile boats between 1967 and 1970 and one more in 1980, and two Yurka-class minesweepers in 1981–82.[16] In 1965, a frigate was ordered by the government of President Nkrumah, intended to also serve as the presidential yacht. The warship was laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Scotland under the name Black Star, but when Nkrumah was deposed in a coup in the following year, the project was cancelled. The ship was eventually bought by the Royal Navy, commissioned as HMS MERMAID, and then sold to Malaysia as the KD Hang Tuah.[17]

## Future plans

[edit]

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.

## Rank structure

[edit]

Main article: Military ranks of Ghana

### Officers

[edit]

The GN officers in descending order of seniority:[18]

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
|

Ghana Navy

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub lieutenant

### Ratings

[edit]

The GN ratings in descending order of seniority:[18]

Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

|
|
|

Ghana Navy

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | No insignia
Chief petty officer | Petty officer first class | Petty officer second class | Leading seaman | Able seaman | Ordinary seaman

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Historical Background of The Ghana Navy". Ghana Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
2. ^ S. Addoe, General History of Ghana Armed Forces: a reference volume, 2005, pp.466-7
3. ^ Adebajo, Adeyeke (2002). Liberia's Civil War: Nigeria, ECOMOG, and Regional Security in West Africa. Lynne Rienner. p. 79\. ISBN 9781588260529.
4. ^ Addae, S. Kojo (2005). A Short History of Ghana Armed Forces. Ministry of Defence of Ghana Armed Forces. ISBN 978-9988-8335-1-0.
5. ^ Navy to secure country's maritime boundaries Government Of Ghana
6. ^ Germany delivers two of its decommissioned FACs to the Armed Forces of Ghana Archived September 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Germanydefence
7. ^ a b Ghana navy takes delivery of two German fast attack craft, maritime security
8. ^ a b c d "President Akufo-Addo commissions naval patrol vessels". GBCGhanaonline. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
9. ^ a b c d "Ships". navyonline.mil.gh. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
10. ^ "Akufo-Addo Commissions 5 Navy, Oil Vessels". Daily Guide Network. 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
11. ^ name= "Kurinoura Shipbuilding"[1]
12. ^ name="Yawatahama"
13. ^ name= " Ehime_Prefecture]"
14. ^ name="Japan"
15. ^ name="https://www.defenceweb.co.za/african-news/ghana-commissions-new-naval-base-and-naval-vessel/"
16. ^ "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.
17. ^ Marriott, Leo (1990). Royal Navy Frigates since 1945, Second Edition. London: Ian Allan Ltd. p. 102\. ISBN 0-7110-1915-0.
18. ^ a b "Ghana – Republic of Ghana Navy". The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia around the world. WORLD INSIGNIA COLLECTORS UNION. Retrieved 2007-06-11.

## External links

[edit]

* Official page
* Ghana Navy uniform insignia
* Media related to Ghana Navy at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Ghana Armed Forces

Leadership|

* President of Ghana
* Chief of the Defence Staff
* Minister of Defence

General|

* Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC)
* Orders, decorations, and medals
* Order of the Star (OOTS)
* Order of the Star and Eagles (OOTSE)

Services|

* Ghana Army
* Ghana Air Force
* Ghana Navy

Independent|

* President's Own Guard Regiment (POGR)
* Border Guard Unit

Departments in the Ministry of Defence|

* Military Intelligence Unit[citation needed]

* v
* t
* e

Current navies of Africa

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Libya
* Liberia
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Nigeria
* Republic of Congo
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template