Ghana: Military service, including sanctions for deserting the army (April 2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 20 April 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA42595.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Military service, including sanctions for deserting the army (April 2004), 20 April 2004, GHA42595.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c092a.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
During 14 and 28 April 2004 telephone interviews, the Minister-Counsellor of the High Commission for the Republic of Ghana in Ottawa provided the following information:
The trial of deserters is conducted before the Ghanaian military tribunal. The process is similar to that in a criminal court. Defendants are entitled to an attorney; they have the opportunity to present a case in their own defence and to cross-examine witnesses. A panel of senior officers act as judges. Defendants are likely to be detained before trial.
The Minister-Counsellor described two scenarios and the sanctions that would result from each:
If the defendant deserted because he/she was planning a coup, he/she can be charged with treason and may face the "ultimate" penalty (execution). In other cases of desertion, he may face detention in a military jail, will possibly receive a dishonourable discharge and will probably lose military benefits. The length of detention depends on the severity of crime and "mitigating factors" might be taken into consideration.
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.
Referring to Ghana, allRefer.com noted that a special Military Tribunal of between five and seven members was created in 1982 to hear cases of crimes committed by military personnel (n.d.). However, allRefer.com makes no mention of the specific nature of those crimes (n.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
allRefer.com. n.d. "Country Study & Country Guide: Ghana." High Commission for the Republic of Ghana, Ottawa. 14 and 28 April 2004. Telephone interviews with the Minister-Counsellor.
Additional Sources Consulted
Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Resource Centre country file, West Africa.
Websites, including: AllAfrica, Amnesty International, Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoinet), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, ReliefWeb, UNHCR, War Resisters' International.
