What has prompted Ghanaian military reform through the 1980s and 1990s? What have been the major steps in the depolitisation of the military? What have been the major limitations of the reforms? It was the wave of discontent with the politicised military hierarchy that brought the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to power, and in the subsequent years, different phases of military policy can be identified that have changed the way the military and government interact.
This Journal of Modern African Studies article considers the transformation of the Ghanaian military from 1982-1996. While a consistent policy over this period cannot be defined, particular strategies of reform can be identified that, at least in part, recognise inadequacies and weaknesses in earlier policies.
Six stages in transformation are recognised over this period: A politicised and democratic military 1982-4; political extrication and partial re-professionalisation 1984-7; further reforms and the transition to democracy 1987-92; enhancing civilian control 1992-6; restructuring the armed forces, and; civil-military relations in the new democratic order. The impact of the 1992 Constitution and the changing role of parliament in its oversight of military reforms are also considered.
The policies of the PNDC resulted in a number of achievements, including subordinating the Armed Forces to ministerial authority. Despite the PNDC remaining a fundamentally military regime, allowing no public oversight of the Armed Forces, security and intelligence agencies, accountability through the breakdown of informal and/or personalistic channels was achieved. Other key achievements include:
- Preventing a successful coup since 1981, the longest period since independence.
- The ‘promotion as a reward’ system was abolished, creating a more stable hierarchy.
- Creating a source of national pride with the Armed Forces becoming involved in a variety of peacekeeping activities.
- The scaling back of military budgets without precipitating obvious discontent in the Armed Forces.
The 1992 constitution and the process of democratisation increased the impetus to implement military reforms, and the restructuring of the Armed Forces lead to the creation of a well-thought-out defence policy. Major policy implications that can be drawn from the Ghanaian experience include:
- The changes in the budgetary system reduced inter-service rivalry and the domination of the Army in budget negotiations. Liberalised procurement policies increased the effective upkeep of equipment.
- The recognition that Ghana had no external enemies freed up resources to be directed to development tasks, as well as maintaining traditional roles of defence.
- The ineffective role of Parliament in military and security issues has a rational explanation, although an increased aggressive role may prove beneficial in the future.
- Military reform is a continuing process, with slow progress on professionalisation and military restructuring, and the continuing blurred line of administrative responsibility, included in the continued criticisms of the current system.
- The internal tensions that allowed the military to be manipulated in the past remain, and some influential members of the regime reject the notion of a ‘non-political army’ which the reform programme is designed to remove.
