Pro-Government Militias
Civil Defense Organization (Ghana)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 23 |
| Country: | Ghana |
| Date formed: | June 26, 1984 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The Civil Defense Organization (CDO) was created in the early stages of Rawlings’ regime in 1984 to support the police and army in their operations. The militia acted as law enforcing organization and in close coordination with the police and military. |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 7, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | In 1992, the National Patriotic Party called for the demobilization of the CDO in order to participate in elections. In 2001, during Ghana’s democratic transition and a change in government, members of pro-government militias, including the CDO members, had to hand over their weapons and were disarmed. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution); military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | unemployed; ex soldiers |
| Primary Membership: | other |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | nationwide, Tema |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Revolutionary organ loyal to the P(NDC) government |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The CDO was created by Rawlings’ Provisional National Defense Council to support the armed forces and other law enforcing institutions in their operations. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | faster mobilization |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Although the CDO’s main task was to enforce laws, there are also sources reporting that militia members target civilians indiscriminately and use their weapons to kill civilians. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | Initially, Rawlings planned to have a militia with a diverse group of people. Eventually, the militia was comprised of unemployed Ghanaians who joined for personal benefits. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | No information. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Members of the CDO received arms by the government to carry out their law enforcement tasks in coordination with the police and military. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia was led by Brigardier Ken Addy who commanded the militiamen. In 1998, Alex Antwi, a former Lieutenant-Colonel, became the new militia leader. The Civil Defense Organization carried out joint operations with the regular armed forces and the police. The CDO was strongly linked to the Ghanaian Provisional National Defense Council headed by former President Rawlings. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.