Pro-Government Militias
Progressive Voluntary Organization (Ghana)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 24 |
| Country: | Ghana |
| Date formed: | Sept. 17, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was a body of different militias and organizations that were linked to the National Democratic Congress party of Rawlings. They were first mentioned by sources in 1999. |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 7, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | year |
| Details of Termination: | The militia ceased to be pro-government in 2001 when Rawlings left office. In the same year, the government began disarming militiamen. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | SEMACO |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | NA |
| Former Rebel Group? | NA |
| 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): | person/minister; political party |
| If link to party, name of party: | National Democratic Congress |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; self-maintained |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ideology; security forces |
| Primary Membership: | ideological |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s) |
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: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Progressive Voluntary Organization was a body of many different pro-government militias such as the Patriots Club of Ghana or the Civil Defense Committee. It was supposed to uphold the principles of Rawlings’ revolution of 1979. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia targeted political dissent by using violence against alleged opposition. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | yes |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | No information. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | No information. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The militiamen were armed with guns. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was supported by the government, but was also self-maintained through own economic activities. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.