Pro-Government Militias
Ghana Private Road Transport Union (Ghana)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 25 |
| Country: | Ghana |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1983 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | Initially, the group was a union that brought private commercial vehicle owners and drivers together. In 1983, leader Nana Kofi Aikins was elected president of the Union. Under his leadership, the group developed strong ties to Rawlings’ Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). (Wikipedia) |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 7, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | year |
| Details of Termination: | The organization ceased to be pro-government in 2001 when Rawlings was succeeded by Kufuor as president. |
| 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? | yes |
| 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): | person/minister |
| 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: | professional group |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | On the roads |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians |
| Purpose(s): | unclear |
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 group was used by the government to levy taxes on the roads and to act similar to a police force. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | No information. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| 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 PGM received ammunition, guns, uniforms and vehicles from the Ghanaian government. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The militia was closely linked to Rawlings’ PNDC. Although they were supposed to cooperate with the regular armed forces, there are sources reporting that Union members also attacked police forces. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.