Harry Dumashie

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Harry Dumashie
Birth nameAchilles Harry Kwami Dumashie
Born4 June 1938
Dzelukope
Died20 December 2002(2002-12-20) (aged 64)
Accra
Buried
Dzelukope
Allegiance Ghana Armed Forces
Service/branch Ghana Air Force
Years of service1961 - 1996
RankAir Marshall
Commands held
Other work Member of PNDC government

Air Marshal Achilles Harry Kwami Dumashie (4 June 1938 - 20 December 2002), often known as Harry Dumashie, was a Ghanaian soldier. He served as Chief of Air Staff and as Ghanaian Chief of Defence Staff from 1992 to 1996.

Contents

Early life and education

Dumashie was born at Dzelukope in the Volta Region of Ghana. His secondary school education was at Mawuli School at Ho which he attended between 1955 and 1959. He proceeded to the Ghana Military Academy where he received his military training. He also trained as a pilot at the Pilot Training School at the Accra Air Force Station. [1]

Career and politics

He received his commission into the Ghana Armed Forces on 30 September 1961. [1] He joined the Ghana Air Force, rising through the ranks to become the Chief of Air Staff in June 1988. [2] [3]

Following the death of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Major General Winston Mensa-Wood in March 1992, Dumashie was appointed as his replacement on 22 March 1992. [4] [5] He also succeeded him as a member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which was the military government ruling Ghana at the time in his capacity as Chief of Defence Staff. He held this position until the PNDC handed over power to a civilian Rawlings government following the 1992 Ghanaian presidential election. He however continued as the CDS until 1 October 1996 when he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Akafia. [4]

Death

Duamashie died at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after a short illness. [1]

Family

Dumashie was survived by a wife and six children. [1]

Honours

In October 2012, President John Mahama commissioned equipment including a simulator, three surveillance aircraft and two hangars at the Takoradi Air Force Station. One of the hangars was named the "AVM Achiles Harry Kwame Dumashie Hangar". [6] [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Farewell Service Held For Ex-Chief Of Defence Staff". Modern Ghana. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. Clegg, Sam, ed. (1 April 1991). "Moves to ... Sogakope Health Centre". No. 12549. Graphic Communications Group. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. Clegg, Sam, ed. (23 May 1992). "Port Franqui Shooting Incident Marked". People's Daily Graphic. No. 12904. Graphic Communications Group. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Past General Officers Commanding /Chiefs of the Defence Staff". Ghana Air Force. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  5. Clegg, Sam, ed. (23 March 1992). "Mensa-Wood is Dead". No. 12853. Graphic Communications Group. p. 1. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  6. "Air Force Gets 3 Planes". GhanaWeb. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. "Air Force Ggets (sic) 3 Planes". News Ghana. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of Air Staff
1988 1992
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Defence Staff
1992 1996
Succeeded by