Emmanuel Erskine
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Emmanuel Alexander Erskine is a retired Ghana
ian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Army Staff
of the Ghana army
. He is also a former commander of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
(UNTSO) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL).
. He had telecommunications training at the Royal Military Academy
at Sandhurst in England
, completing in 1960. He was also at the Staff College, Camberley
in 1968. He also trained at the Royal College of Defence Studies
in 1968 and 1972.
Erskine has served in various capacities with the Ghana army. He was Commanding Officer of the Ghana Signals Regiment and later Director of Communications with the Ghana Ministry of Defence. He later became Director for Operations and Planning at the same Ministry from 1971 to 1972. He was the Chief of Army Staff briefly between January and February 1972. He again held the same position from February 1973 to April 1974.
Two (UNEF 2) from 1974 to 1976 in Egypt
. He was then appointed as the Chief of Staff of UNTSO in Israel
between January 1976 and April 1978. He subsequently became the first commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) between 1978 and 1981. Erskine again occupied the position of Chief of Staff of UNTSO and was also the United Nations Secretary General's Representative for Matters relating to UN Peacekeeping Operations in the Middle East
from February 1981 to May 1986.
(PHP). He was the party's presidential candidate during the 1992 Ghanaian presidential election
. He came fifth with 1.7% of the vote. The PHP later merged with the National Independence Party
to form the People's Convention Party
(PCP) in 1993.
, John Kufuor
in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana. The commission was to investigate human rights abuses committed during the five military regimes which have ruled Ghana.
, Zimbabwe
. It was established in February 2001 and has Erskine as the chairman of the board of trustees. The CPIA has the General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre (GERDC) named in his honour and was officially opened in September 2001 by him. The GERDC also launched the General Emmanuel Erskine Annual Lecture Series. The inaugural lecture was delivered by General Erskine himself.
since 1992 and was a participant at the 50th Pugwash conference
which deliberated on "Eliminating the Causes of War". He served as the Chairman of the Ghana Action Network on Small Arms (GANSA)in 2002.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Emmanuel Alexander Erskine is a retired Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Army Staff
Ghana Army
The Ghana Army is the army of the West African nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army...
of the Ghana army
Ghana Army
The Ghana Army is the army of the West African nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army...
. He is also a former commander of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization is an organization founded on 29 May 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. Its primary task was providing the military command structure to the peace keeping forces in the Middle East to enable the peace keepers to observe and maintain the...
(UNTSO) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
(UNIFIL).
Education and training
Erskine trained in various military institutions in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He had telecommunications training at the Royal Military Academy
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
at Sandhurst in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, completing in 1960. He was also at the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1968. He also trained at the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in 1968 and 1972.
Ghana army
Erskine was commissioned at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in December 1960 into the Signal Corps of the Ghana army.Erskine has served in various capacities with the Ghana army. He was Commanding Officer of the Ghana Signals Regiment and later Director of Communications with the Ghana Ministry of Defence. He later became Director for Operations and Planning at the same Ministry from 1971 to 1972. He was the Chief of Army Staff briefly between January and February 1972. He again held the same position from February 1973 to April 1974.
United Nations Peace Keeping
Erskine served as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Emergency ForceUnited Nations Emergency Force
The first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
Two (UNEF 2) from 1974 to 1976 in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. He was then appointed as the Chief of Staff of UNTSO in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
between January 1976 and April 1978. He subsequently became the first commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
(UNIFIL) between 1978 and 1981. Erskine again occupied the position of Chief of Staff of UNTSO and was also the United Nations Secretary General's Representative for Matters relating to UN Peacekeeping Operations in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
from February 1981 to May 1986.
Politics
Erskine was one of the founding members of the People's Heritage PartyPeople's Heritage Party
The People's Heritage Party is a former political party in Ghana.-Formation:The PHP was one of the eight political parties formed when the ban on party politics was lifted in 1992 in Ghana. It claimed to follow the Nkrumahist philosophy.-Elections:...
(PHP). He was the party's presidential candidate during the 1992 Ghanaian presidential election
Ghanaian presidential election, 1992
Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 3 November 1992. The result was a victory for Jerry John Rawlings, who won 58.4% of the vote. Voter turnout was 50.2%.-Results:...
. He came fifth with 1.7% of the vote. The PHP later merged with the National Independence Party
National Independence Party (Ghana)
The National Independence Party is a defunct political party in Ghana. It was formed in 1992 in the run up to the inauguration of the Fourth Republic of Ghana...
to form the People's Convention Party
People's Convention Party
The People's Convention Party is a former political party in Ghana.It merged with the National Convention Party in 1996 and became the reformed Convention People's Party....
(PCP) in 1993.
National Reconciliation Commission
Erskine was one of the nine members of the National Reconciliation Commission which were appointed by the President of GhanaPresident of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
, John Kufuor
John Kufuor
John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the second president of the 4th Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union...
in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana. The commission was to investigate human rights abuses committed during the five military regimes which have ruled Ghana.
General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre
The Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) is a peace organization based in HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It was established in February 2001 and has Erskine as the chairman of the board of trustees. The CPIA has the General Emmanuel Erskine Research and Documentation Centre (GERDC) named in his honour and was officially opened in September 2001 by him. The GERDC also launched the General Emmanuel Erskine Annual Lecture Series. The inaugural lecture was delivered by General Erskine himself.
Other activities
General Erskine is the Chairman of the Opportunities Industrialization Centre Ghana Accra Local Programme Committee. He has been a member of the Pugwash councilPugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
since 1992 and was a participant at the 50th Pugwash conference
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
which deliberated on "Eliminating the Causes of War". He served as the Chairman of the Ghana Action Network on Small Arms (GANSA)in 2002.