Pro-Government Militias
SEMACO (Ghana)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 27 |
| Country: | Ghana |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1995 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was created in 1995 by the Demobilization Committee to provide security services to the government. |
| 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): | Progressive Voluntary Organization |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | yes |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| 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: | governing party |
| Government Link(s): | political party; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | National Democratic Congress |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| 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: | security forces |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Accra |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | no information |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious leader(s); protect property and investment |
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: | SEMACO was set up as a security company by the National Democratic Congress party to protect party officials and government property. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | No information. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
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 group was armed with weapons. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | SEMACO Limited was a security company that provided services to the government and other institutions. The group cooperated with the Progressive Voluntary Organization which was another PGM, by sharing its earnings with the organization. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.