Lt Col MD Dey enrolled at the Ghana Military Academy on 2 Oct 03 as part of Regular Career
Course 45. After completing his 2 years of training, he was commissioned into the Ghana Army’s
Infantry Corps on 01 Sep 05 and posted to the 2 Infantry Battalion, Takoradi as Platoon
Commander.
Since his commission, Lt Col MD Dey has held numerous appointments. He held positions as Platoon
Commander, Intelligence Officer, Officer Commanding, Command Rear and Second in Command all at 2
Infantry Battalion. Lt Col MD Dey is well versed in the field of training, having served as
Instructor and Officer Commanding at the Jungle Warfare School Achiase. He also served as a
Directing Staff at the Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. He
was appointed as the Acting Commanding Officer of the Newly established 12 Mechanised Battalion
in July 2023.
He has done all mandatory military courses commensurate to his current rank. He attended the
Jungle Expert and Instructors Course at the Jungle Warfare School. He had his Young Officers and
Combat Team Commanders Courses at the Army Combat Training School, Teshie, Accra. He
participated in the United States Department of State Effective Methods of Instruction Course at
The Bundase Training Camp. He also attended the Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at
the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
In addition to these military courses and appointments, Lt Col MD Dey holds a Bachelor of
Business Administration Management from the Valley View University. Additionally, he holds a
Master of Science in Defence and International Politics, from the Ghana Institute of Public
Administration (GIMPA).
Lt Col MD Dey has served in the following appointments and capacities with the United Nations
Missions; Platoon Commander in UNMIL GH 5, UNIFIL GH 69 and 75 and MONUSCO GH 2. Additionally,
he served as COE Officer with UNISFA.
He is married and the union is blessed with 2 sons and 2 daughters. At his leisure, he enjoys
listening to good music and admiring nature.
ESTABLISHMENT OF 12 MECHANISED BATTALION
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 is 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 serves 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!!!
