Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

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

Check PGMD for evidence.

Evidence