12 Mechanised Battalion

ESTABLISHMENT OF 12 MECHANISED BATTALION

1. ​The Ghana Army as part of its capstone tenets has always focused on producing a professional army that is capable of neutralising any form of threat particularly in the era of imminent dynamic security threats. Consequently, the Army commenced its expansion drive to dominate all parts of the Country, seize and maintain the initiative at all times. This has also been to provide the platform for all forms of kinetic and non-kinetic multi-domain multi-agency operations to be conducted, sustained and coordinated at all times. The Army subsequently established 3 mechanised units including 12 Mechanised Battalion in the Northern Sector of Ghana to maintain a foothold.
2. On 17 Jul 23, 12 Mechanised Battalion was established to occupy ungoverned spaces in the Northern Sector that are prone to terrorist activities. The Unit is mandated to establish a block between Navrongo and Tumu with its headquarters situated in Sandema. Further, the Unit is to develop both manned and unmanned fighting temporal operating bases at critical areas between Ghana and Burkina Faso. With the deployment of the headquarters in Sandema, the Unit is able to deter, deny and devalue the activities of the various terrorist armed groups whose activities have been dominant in the Sahel and Burkina Faso. Further, the deployment will significantly reduce reaction time in curbing incidents of terrorist armed groups along the northern border and thus compliment the efforts of other military units, sister security agencies and allied security apparatus.
3. ​The Unit prides itself with being a unit that is resolute, resilient, tough and discipline with an ever-ready posture in reacting to incidents. Thus, the Unit adopted the crocodile as its totem which is also an embodiment of the soul of Builsa people. The predator posses a strong jaw and immense biting strength that exemplifies the robust posturing and operational acumen of the Unit with the ability to rapidly adapt to all terrains. The Unit prides itself with being the forward most unit of the Army and thus serves as the early warning, screen and guard force of Ghana. This influenced the adoption of a triangular vector which connotes an observation post and by extension, synonymous with an early warning element. Furthermore, the Unit adopted M40 rifles which are reputed in the world of arms as the best precision weapon. This translates into the accuracy with which the Unit will provide results regardless of the task allocated. As a mechanised unit, the Unit which possesses various forms of armoured vehicle platforms is to conduct mounted, dismounted and rapid intervention operations. These are embodied in the Unit insignia which remains purple; a colour that symbolizes an artistic unit with unique personnel who are intuitive and function as warriors of the supreme being, Yahweh. The colour also serves as basis of the Unit’s spirituality and divinity working as gatekeepers in an aggressive defence architecture. The Unit prides itself in decisiveness and as visionary in character with a great need to participate in humanitarian support for persons and communities.
4. 12 Mechanised Battalion just like any other Unit in the Army maintains carefully selected staff who hold the reigns of command, coordination and monitoring of all matters. Lt Col Martin Dziedzorm Dey was appointed the first commanding officer of the Unit and was deputized by the first second-in-command; Major Raymond Owusu – Ababio. As per the existing command structure in any military establishment in the Service, the first adjutant Lt Kelvin Avulekpor served as a principal staff officer to the Commanding Officer. With the support of both main and ancillary staff, the Unit is poised to succeed in all its endeavours and project the image of the Army and by extension the entire Armed Forces.

The Crocs!
Bite & Spin!!
Crocs!!
Resolute & Resilient!!
Crocs!!!
Tough & Disciplined!!!
The Crocs!!!
Ever Ready! Ever Robust!! Ahuah!!!