Ghana army ranks, training, recruitment (2020)

Ghana army ranks, training, recruitment (2020)

As a citizen of the Republic of Ghana, are you concerned about the safety of your country? Would you be interested in joining the Ghana army and being on the front line to defend your country? Well, there are things you definitely should know about the military. First of all, the army recruits on an annual basis and provides the recruits a period of training before they are deployed to work in various parts of the country, providing defense.

Ghana army training
Image: instagram.com @ghanaarmy
Source: UGC

The 2020 recruitment has already started, and it is paramount that you are adequately prepared. You have to know where, when, and how you can make your application. One of the things you have to know is the recruitment period, Ghana army recruitment branches, necessary forms, exams offered, and application deadline.

Ranks in the Ghana army

At the apex of Ghana command, there is the chief of the defense forces. The president of Ghana is constitutionally the head of the Ghana Armed forces and the supreme military commander of the president’s own guard regiment (POGR). He is also the head of the Border Guard Unit (BGU). Besides, there is the minister of defense forces and the chief of defense staff who oversees and supervises all the activities that are carried out in the Ghana Armed forces.

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Three brigade-sized commands form the entire Ghana army. They include:

1. Northern Command (Tamale)

  • 6th Battalion, Ghana Regiment
  • Airborne Force

2. Central Command (Kumasi)

  • 3rd Battalion, Ghana Regiment (Sunyani)
  • 4th Battalion, Ghana Regiment (Kumasi)
  • 2nd Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron (Sunyani)
  • 2nd Signal Squadron (Kumasi)
  • 2nd Field Workshop (Kumasi)
  • 49th Engineer Regiment (Kumasi)
  • 2nd Field Ambulance (Kumasi)
  • 2nd Transport Company (Kumasi)
  • 2nd Field Operations Center (Kumasi)

3. Southern Command (Accra)

  • 1st Battalion, Ghana Regiment (Tema)
  • 2nd Battalion, Ghana Regiment (Takoradi)
  • 5th Battalion, Ghana Regiment (Accra)
  • 64th Infantry Regiment (Accra)
  • 1st Reconnaissance Armoured Squadron and Reconnaissance Armoured Regiment HQ (Accra)
  • 66th Artillery Regiment (Ho)
  • 48th Engineer Regiment (Teshie)
  • 1st Field Workshop (Accra)
  • 1 Motor Transport Battalion (Accra)

Ghana army uniforms are distinct according to the rank. Each rank has a uniform identifying them and uniquely sets them aside in a parade.

History of Ghana army

Ghana army recruitment
Image: instagram.com @ghanaarmy
Source: UGC

GAF was established in 1959. It is the central warfare organizational unit of Ghana armed forces. Since its formation, the unit is in charge of all matters security in the country. It is responsible for thwarting any attacks on Ghana’s borders and ensuring there is calmness through enforcing the rule of law and upholding the country’s constitution.

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GAF has its decision-making body known as the Ghana armed forces council. The council is made of the person’s holding offices in critical areas of Ghana's government. They include, among others, the vice president and the minister of defense.

  • Vice President – HE Dr. M Bawumia
  • Min for Defence – Hon D Nitiwul
  • Min for Interior – Hon A Dery
  • The Min for Foreign Affairs – Hon SA Botchway
  • Chief of The Defence Staff – Lt Gen OB Akwa
  • Chief of The Army Staff – Maj Gen WA Ayamdo
  • The Chief of The Naval Staff – Rear Adm S Amoama
  • Chief of The Air Staff – Air Vice Marshal F Hanson
  • Forces Sergeant Major – Chief Warrant Officer R Barker
  • Secretary – Dr. Evans Agbeme Dzikum
  • Member – Brig Gen Robert O Sackey
  • Member – Col Comfort Ankomah-Danso

Ghana army recruitment

Serving your country is one of the biggest priorities for most Ghanaians. However, unlike the common belief that getting to work with GAF is the coolest thing out there, it is actually not a walk in the park. Most of the people who join the recruitment process end up falling out because of the rigorous nature of training, as well as the work one is assigned after graduating.

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You will be tested on various aspects of the human capacity to near breaking point. The training involves a physical examination, intelligence, and emotional ability to handle the pressure.

One example of the questions you can expect in the recruitment test is on the history of Ghana, including how the colonization impacted various sectors of the country. You should also be prepared to answer questions relating to roles played by GAF in the constitution, among others. To accurately answer most of these questions, take time and revise the history of the country on various online publications and in libraries.

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Apart from these questions, you also need to prepare for the physical exam adequately. Here, you will be expected to demonstrate real physical fitness as well as the ability to absorb physical pressure. This part of the training is what gets most of the applicants exempted in the final selection. This is because they either fail to follow the rules or fail to perform all the required tests. For instance, if asked to run a given distance, it is expected of you to comply.

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Ghana army forms

You will be expected to fill Ghana army application forms bearing your information. To do so, visit the GAF website and check out for the recruitment portal. From there, you will find an application form to fill and submit before the recruitment deadline. Remember to provide accurate and correct information about you; else, you will not be eligible for recruitment, let alone getting placement for the Ghana army training.

Requirements for Ghana army recruitment

Ghana army training
Image: instagram.com @gharmy
Source: UGC

To qualify for selection, an applicant will be required to meet a set of requirements. A criterion is provided, which should guide any applicant interested in serving under the Ghana army. Some of the requirements include age limit for Ghana army officers, medical history, and citizenship status. Others include:

  • Must be a Ghanaian citizen by birth.
  • Must be of good character.
  • Not be < 18 years and not > 26 years by 06 August 2020
  • Be medically fit by Ghana Armed Forces standard is one of the informants in the Ghana army body selection process.
  • Be not bonded.
  • Be not married - applies for Regular Officer Candidates only
  • Minimum height of 1.68m (5’6’’) for males and 1.60m (5’ 4”) for females.
  • For Military Police only - The minimum height for applicants should be
  • 1.75m (5’9”) for males and
  • 1.70m (5’ 7”) for females

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Must possess:

  • BECE. Must have Six (6) Passes, including English and Mathematics.
  • WASSCE. Must have Six (6) Credits (Not less than C6), including Core English and Core Mathematics. Or
  • SSSCE. Must have Six (6) Credits (Not less than D), including Core English and Mathematics. Or
  • GCE ‘O’ Level. Must have Five (5) Credits (Not less than), including English and Mathematics.
  • GCE ‘A’ Level. Must have Credits in all Three subjects (Not less than D) and General Paper
  • DEGREE. Must have First Degree with at least Second Class Lower from a recognized University

Remember that once the information is received and verified, it cannot be changed. If, at any point, you feel the need to terminate the application in the course of the application process, simply discontinue and close the page without submitting your details.

Recruitment process

Before even undertaking the Ghana army aptitude test, all prospective candidates are required to go through the entry requirements carefully. Upon meeting the application requirements, you will also be expected to perform other processes.

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  1. Acquire a FIFTY GHANA CEDIS (GH₵50.00) from a post office in any part of the country.
  2. Gently scratch the card to reveal a pin code. This code can only be used three times in the course of the application process.
  3. Go to the recruitment portal and login at http://www.gafrecruitment.com. Please make sure your browser is supported.
  4. Ensure you set your phone broadcast to ‘ON’ mode. To perform this:
  • Go to messages
  • Message settings
  • Locate the broadcast option
  • Activate to ‘ON’
  • Select all channels to 'receive.'
  • Exit message settings

The quality of any battalion or army is in the quality of their weaponry. Ghana army weapons comprise of latest armory according to international standards. Part of this quality is displayed during national holidays and celebrations as a show of the country's power to the entire world and its citizenry. So if you intend to join the Ghana army, you will interact with some of the latest military equipment that requires intense training to familiarize and use when called upon by your country fully.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

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