Category: EU Exercise

International-European PlugIn Exercise 2022 INT-EU PIX 22

Project’s name:

International-European PlugIn Exercise 2022

Project start:

01.03.2022

Project duration:

24 Months
(in case of COVID-19 related delays – 36 Months)

the Project Coordinator:

the European University of Cyprus (EUC/CYP)

the Project Partners:

  1. Norwegian Directorate of Civil Protection (DSB/NOR),
  2. Resilience Solutions International (RSI/AUT),
  3. Prepared International UG (PPI/GER)
  4. D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT/AUT).

The Project tasks:

The task of the consortium is to implement a UCPM (EU Civil Protection Mechanism) support module in a planned large-scale exercise for disaster management.
In this project, a 3-day (24/7) plug-in exercise (PIX) is designed, planned, implemented and evaluated outside of Europe in a country with different emergency management structures (e.g. other structures, response mechanisms, culture and climate conditions).

Based on the European Commission’s final decision, the PIX will take place either in South Asia/Nepal involving Asian Disaster Preparedness Center/ADPC, or West Africa/Ghana or Cabo Verde involving Economic Community of West African States / ECOWAS, or East Africa /Djibouti involving Intergovernmental Authority on Development / IGAD.

The background of the plug-in exercise:

The UCPM is often activated for dealing with emergencies outside the European Union. Most of the UCPM exercises conducted to reflect this often use fictitious scenarios and artificial countries to simulate the response environment. Although these exercises are needed, they do not necessarily provide the true nature of real deployments. At the same time, disaster management exercises outside Europe take place worldwide every year. This could allow for opportunities to join, i.e. plug-in to, planned large-scale exercises involving a multi-organisation response by providing an EUCPT, modules and/or other response capacities.

The overall objective of the Mechanism is to strengthen the cooperation among Member States in the field of civil protection for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters. Any country in the world overwhelmed by a disaster can call on the Mechanism for support. By pooling the civil protection capabilities of the Member States, the Mechanism can ensure better protection primarily of people, but also of the natural and cultural environment and of property.

The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is the operational heart of the Mechanism. It is operated by DG ECHO and is operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

The project objectives:

  1. test and improve the coordination of the UCPM response assistance, and ultimately to establish a common understanding in major emergencies.
  2. improve interoperability, coordination, communication, reporting and logistical arrangements in civil protection assistance with the different response capacities, national authorities, local emergency management authorities, humanitarian actors and other agencies with a role in emergency response.
  3. improve the field cooperation between EUCPT and UNDAC.
  4. enhance the cooperation with the EU Delegation(s), DG ECHO Field Office and EU Member States embassies in the region or country affected.
  5. develop and implement a safety and security plan for an emergency response outside EU.
  6. strengthen the understanding of Host Nation Support and introduce the EU HNS guidelines

PDEX-JIP (UCPM-2021-EX)

Project’s Titel:

Professional Dialogue Exercises – Jordan Israel Palestine

Project start:

15.11.2021

Project duration:

18 months

Coordinator:

European University Cyprus (EUC)

Project’s Partners

  1. D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (DMAT)
  2. Prepared International (PPI)
  3. Resilience Solutions International (RSI)
  4. Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. (JUH)
  5. Ministry of Interior Cyprus (CCD)
  6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus (MFA)

Project’s background

The project team for this exercise was requested by the three parties: Jordan, Israel, and Palestine (JIP). Parts of the team have a long-standing background with the Professional Dialogue project.

Mr. Beck was the founder and long-term project manager and mediator of the Professional Dialogue and, currently acting as a reference person for the countries. Mr. Hirschmugl & Mr. Beck were also involved in the UNDAC Disaster Response Preparedness mission to Palestine in 2014. This exercise project has been prepared from the JIP meeting 2019 in Austria onwards where DMAT Consulting KG (DMAT) and Prepared International (PPI) presented the lessons from all previous exercises that have taken place in the region.

The Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian emergency management frameworks provide a unique environment for disaster preparedness work. The range of risks and vulnerabilities coupled with the existing framework for response have the potential to cause the entire region to suffer severe impacts in case of a major disaster, such as a strong earthquake.

The project is designed to achieve overall strengthening of disaster preparedness in the JIP region while increasing interoperability and HNS measures for international and regional disaster response.

Aim of the Project

to improve civil protection (CP) preparedness and response inside and outside the Member States of the Mechanism by providing a testing environment and a learning opportunity for all actors involved in CP interventions.

The consortium will:

  1. produce an assessment of the CP situation,
  2. draft joint Standing Operating Procedures on parties’ request (SOPs),
  3. hold joint planning conferences,
  4. implement a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) training Host Nation Support (HNS) in a specific environment,
  5. perform a Joint Full-Scale Exercise (FSX),
  6. provide an Evaluation that includes a Lessons Learned (LL) process and recommendations for the Way ahead,
  7. provide the sub-region with HNS-guidelines considering the specific response environment.

Project’s Objectives:

  1. analyse the CP situation in the JIP region,
  2. conduct joint planning with JIP partners,
  3. develop a joint SOP for international disaster response,
  4. prepare and conduct one HNS TTX,
  5. prepare and conduct one joint FSX,
  6. conduct an evaluation of the current situation in the region
  7. conclude with a LL procedure and recommend a way ahead for the JIP region

 

The Project’s Exercises:

PDEX-JIP – Tabletop Exercise (TTX)

The aim of the TTX is to conduct a discussion-based exercise, in which the planned FSX scenario will be simulated and discussed. All relevant existing plans, documents, maps, guidelines etc. can be used and discussed, possible problems and connected solutions identified and at the end the ground for an efficient simulated FSX should be set.

Objectives of this exercise:

  1. Discuss the possible FSX scenario – Earthquake and cascading effects, including outbreak of a pandemic and lock down during the exercise
  2. Discuss the activation of the EUCPM (Alert, requesting and offering relief teams and relief goods)
  3. Discuss EU HNS Guidelines – procedures of sending states, transiting states and hosting/receiving states – what changes in a pandemic environment – for the guidelines. Discuss and confirm the SOPs developed by the project.
  4. Discuss cooperation with Local Emergency Management Agency/LEMA, EU Delegation on site, UN OCHA ERCC and EU ERCC, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDAC, etc.
  5. Discuss involvement and cooperation of UNHAS/WFP,
  6. Discuss activation and support by Copernicus and UNITAR/UNOSAT
  7. Strategize on supporting most vulnerable groups
  8. Identification of cascading effects and particularities in urban areas
  9. Discuss involvement of modules, ECPP and RescEU in such a disaster
  10. Discuss an exit strategy and hand over / Take over procedures for mission end
  11. Discuss trilateral cooperation of JIP

 

Joint Full-Scale Exercise (FSX)

Aim of this exercise: to conduct an operations-based exercise with deployment and field response to JIP as the affected countries. The scenario is the further developed TTX scenario with all recommendations included. All existing procedures due to a real mission situation will be tested in the field with involvement of a variety of organisations and agencies which one will meet in the field. All real mission activities of UCP will be included in a 12 hrs -per day exercise (minimum 36 hours’ total time) under stressful conditions and time pressure.

Objectives of this exercise:

  1. Exercise a possible FSX scenario – Earthquake and cascading effects, including outbreak of a pandemic and lock down in the field and test specific SOPs for support between JIP entities, specific focus on most vulnerable groups
  2. Activate the EUCPM (Alert, requesting and offering relief teams and relief goods) and deploy an EUCPT on site
  3. Deploy teams from the neighbourhood to support in the first hours after the event
  4. Deploy an EUCPT, TAST, EU modules, teams from ECCP or RescEU (3-4 Skeleton teams or other capacities) to JIP
  5. Test all relevant procedures like the EU HNS Guidelines – information sharing procedures, procedures for assessments and coordination, meetings, incoming relief goods etc.
  6. Experience the cooperation with LEMA, EU Delegation on site, UN OCHA ERCC and EU ERCC, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDAC, etc. in real
  7. Involve other relevant organisations like UNHAS/WFP,
  8. Experience activation and support by Copernicus and UNITAR/UNOSAT
  9. Prepare an exit strategy and hand over / Take over procedures for mission end
  10. Experience trilateral cooperation of JIP

ResponSEE Table Top Exercise (TTX) 06-07.July.2021

The first Exercise of ResponSEE Project was successfully designed, planned and conducted to strengthen disaster preparedness in South East Europe. The two-days virtual Table Top Exercise (TTX) were held on the 6th and 7th of July using a contemporary co-working Platform to connect all the Participants to each other in spontaneous and fluid way.

The participants were 44 members from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro characterizing national and international authorities along with NGOs.

The exercise scenario on the first day was presented as a breaking News Video about the Earthquake in Bosnia and Herzegovina to start the day and get all participants to simulate the Exercises in real life. To see the full News Flash about the Earthquake for the exercise start, please click the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd7zrLzGnnk

(ResponSEE project is funded by the European Union)

The Table Top Exercise is completed with many lessons learned and we are looking forward to the upcoming two exercises:

  • Command Post Exercise (CPX) – November 2021
  • Full Scale Exercise (FSX) – April 2022

44 Participants were joining the first day of ResponSEE Project ( Table Top Exercise)

HEUREKA (UCPM-2020-KN-AG)

UNION CIVIL PROTECTION MECHANISM
Network partnerships
(UCPM-2020-KN-AG)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: HEUREKA

Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform Middle East

Project’s Logo

 

Project start:

01.01.2021

Duration:

18 months

Coordinator:

Federal Government of Styria, (AUSTRIA)

Consortium/Project’s Partners:

  • Disaster Competence Network Austria, DCNA (AUSTRIA)
  • Cyprus Civil Defence, CCD (Cyprus)
  • European University Cyprus, EUC (Cyprus)
  • Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, LRI (Lebanon)
  • Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center, Al-Anjah National
    University, Nablus, ANNU (Palestine)

supporting Experts as Subcontractors of the coordinator

  • Resilience Solutions International (AUSTRIA)
  • D.M.A.T. Consulting KG/(AUSTRIA)
  • Prepared International (GERMANY)

Background:

The risk landscape for Europe and its neighbors has been subject to significant changes over the recent years. Europe and its neighbors face a wide range of disaster risks, many of which become progressively more prevalent and urgent to tackle. These risks turn more and more often to disasters such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, storms, heat waves, large-scale medical emergencies and technological accidents that affect increasingly higher numbers of people, infrastructure, properties, cultural heritage and the environment. Climate change further exacerbates the risks and increases the exposure to and the vulnerability of people and assets to damage. At the time of drafting this Call, the pandemic caused by the COVID19 virus is showing our vulnerabilities drastically.
The majority of disaster risks are cross-border that threaten entire regions and can affect multiple countries simultaneously. In a world that becomes increasingly interconnected risks also tend to become cross-sectoral touching upon various thematic disciplines at once.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism Knowledge Network:

The UCPM Knowledge Network[1]  was established through the revised Union Civil Protection
Mechanism legislation and it is foreseen as a platform for better data collection, increased flow of information, innovation, improved sharing of knowledge, expertise and skills and consolidated scientific evidence through cooperation, partnership and networking.
Vision: strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the collective civil protection and disaster management efforts in all phases of the disaster cycle.
Mission: bringing together civil protection and disaster management actors and institutions to improve the overall knowledge situation and foster the disasters.

[1] ec.europa.eu/echo/what/civil-protection/knowledge-network_en

Objectives:

The Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform Middle East will bridge across knowledge holders relevant to disaster management actors, to enhance coordination, cooperation, compatibility and complementarity between capacities and will improve the competence of experts. Key objective will be to facilitate the cooperation between civil protection actors and humanitarian aid providers. For this, the example of the International Humanitarian Partnership will be studied and long-term relation established. The project will collect and share knowledge, experience, expertise, skills, competence, lessons learnt, and best practices in close cooperation with civil protection and disaster management authorities as well as knowledge holders from the public and private sector, to stimulate research and innovation and a shared understanding of prevention, preparedness and response.

The specific objective of the project is to support new and consolidate existing partnerships in civil protection and disaster risk management in the Middle East that enhance cooperation and synergies in prevention, preparedness and response. Disaster Risk Management actors of the Middle East will be connected with their counterparts inside the European Union. In addition, the cooperation between civil protection and the humanitarian community will be strengthened following the role-model of the International Humanitarian Partnership.
The Civil Protection Knowledge Partnership Platform Middle East will consider scenario-based approaches, whereby civil protection and disaster risk management actors come together and team up to exchange good practices, knowledge and expertise under specific disaster risk scenarios.

 

ResponSEE (UCPM-2020-EX-AG)

Union Civil Protection Mechanism Exercises (UCPM-2020-EX-AG)

 

 

 

 

 

Project title: ResponSEE 

Planning, development and conduct of a Union Civil Protection Exercise project to improve the response to an earthquake in South East Europe

 

Project’s Logo

 

Project start:

01.01.2021

Duration:

18 months

Coordinator:

Federal Government of Styria, Civil protection department (AUSTRIA)

Consortium/project’s Partners

  • Ministry of Security (BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA)
  • Ministry of Internal affairs through Department of Emergency Situation (ROMANIA)
  • Reliefgoods GmbH (AUSTRIA)

supported experts as subcontractors to the coordinator:

  • Resilience Solutions International (AUSTRIA)
  • D.M.A.T. Consulting KG/(AUSTRIA)
  • Prepared International (GERMANY)

 

Background:

The countries of the South East Europe (SEE) have a long history of devastating earthquakes that have incurred significant economic and human losses and influenced the development efforts of the countries. Particularly sensitive and earthquake-prone territories are located within ALB, BiH and MNE.

 

Aim:

Aim of this project is to strengthen disaster preparedness in the Western Balkans (WB) by increasing interoperability, enabling and supporting cooperation for international disaster response to bring ALB and BiH closer to the UCPM. This will be ensured by an in-depth analysis of the CP situation and exercise capacities of ALB, BiH and MNE, joint exercise planning, development of an exercise planning guide and creating a joint testbed by executing a TTX, CPX and FSX.

 

The consortium will:

  1. assess the CP situation and training capacities in the mentioned countries
  2. draft a guide for preparation and conduct of exercises
  3. hold joint planning conferences
  4. implement a Tabletop Exercise (TTX)
  5. conduct a Command Post Exercise (CPX)
  6. perform a Joint FSX
  7. provide an Evaluation including a Lessons Learned process and recommendations for national CP plans
  8. finalise exercise planning guide

The project is designed to achieve an overall strengthening of disaster preparedness in the WB while increasing interoperability and HNS measures for regional and international disaster response as well as conduct capacity building by training and exercising.

 

Project objectives are:

  • Analyse the CP situation in ALB, BiH and MNE;
  • Conduct joint exercise planning;
  • Prepare and conduct one joint TTX, CPX, and FSX;
  • Conduct evaluation and conclude with a lessons learned procedure and recommend a way ahead for the region;
  • Develop an exercise planning guide;

The overall expected result is to enable the response to a large-scale disaster in the region by creating interoperability between all involved actors, and enable support to vulnerable groups; Prepare Main Event List (MEL) and Main Inject List (MIL) for the exercises; A Lessons Learned event; Exercise planning guide; Inform the planned update of cooperation SOP between ERCC and UNDAC system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HNS Table Top eXercise (TTX Ghana)

This EU Exercise is a project of the European Commission, DG ECHO (Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) in Brussels – specifically the CALL FOR TENDER NO. ECHO / A2 / SER / 2018/16. funded by European Union Civil Protection

The consortium, consisting of:

as well as the project partners:

Exercise Objective:

The objective of the HNS TTX is to practice emergency response structures at strategic and operational levels and improve inter-institutional co-operation in the area of Host Nation Support, also through Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs). The ultimate objective is to remove as much as possible any foreseeable obstacles to international assistance. This ensures that disaster response operations proceed smoothly.

Within the project, three HNS TTX has already conducted –

  • in Austria/Eisenerz (is conducted 21.-24.05.2019)
  • in Albania/Mirdita (is conducted 02.-05.07.2019)
  • finally, in Ghana/Accra (is conducted 03.-06.12.2019)

HNS Table-Top Exercise Accra, Ghana

the consortium was able to conduct the last Host Nation Support Exercise in Ghana with
NADMO – the National Disaster Management Organisation. NADMO was an excellent Partner during the exercise among other 9 Nations were involved in this Exercise. And the Feedback from all was Excellent – and even will be used to adapt Ghanian SOPs in Disaster Management.

Thanks to all participants and especially the Deputy Director General Mr. Seji Saji, who participated the whole duration of the exercise, although there was a public holiday – the Farmers Day on 6th December.

To read more about the Exercise in Ghana please click the link below, an article that has been written by the “Enviro-news-Nigeria” about; (Ghana’s NADMO, EU conduct maiden disaster response mockup exercise). The Article in PDF

 

HNS TTX Group Picture of 2 Observers and the Exercise Organizer in Ghana Dec.2019

 

Prof. Dr. Alois Hirschmugl with the Deputy Director General Mr. Seji Saji

EU ModEX (2017-2020)

General Information

 

The Module Exercises (MODEX) are financed by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and are part of an exercise’s series within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Modules and other Response Capacities already registered in the Common Emergency Communications and Information System (CECIS) were invited to apply for a participation in one of the Exercises. The main exercise objectives for the participants are to train self-sufficiency, interoperability, procedures and coordination as well as to use the exercise as a learning opportunity. EU MODEX also gives participating modules and other Response Capacities the opportunity for certification as European Emergency Response Capacity (EERC) and for classification or re-classification to meet international standards for deployments in disasters.

 

ModEX_Logo

Developments and training for humanitarian relief operations

 

In addition to the projects where the D.M.A.T. Consulting KG acts as a partner, it also takes on orders as a subcontractor. The activity of D.M.A.T. Consulting KG is based on experience in numerous humanitarian and civil defence assignments, training and runs its own projects, mostly developing solutions, tools, strategies and processes in the field of Disasters.

 

The Members in the international consortium of the upcoming ModEx of the EU are:

 

 

EU MODEX Austria/Eisenerz, 24.-27.05.2018

 

The first ModEx took place in October 2017 in England. This was followed by exercises in Denmark in January 2018 and in Bulgaria in March 2018.

In May 24th till 27th 2018 ModEx (Modular Exercise) was held in Austria, on Erzberg in Styria. The D.M.A.T. Consulting KG was entrusted by the Province of Styria for planning of this exercise. The ModEx Austria took place in the international training center of the Styrian Red Cross for “Urban Search and Rescue in alpine terrain”.

The D.M.A.T. Consulting KG was pleased to announce the exciting and challenging tasks of planning and implementing a 36-hours exercise for the training of two medium urban search and rescue teams from Greece and Lithuania, a Cave Rescue Team from Slovenia and a drone team from France. This work was in cooperation and carried out on behalf of the State of Styria, Department of Civil Protection and National Defence as a partner in the ModEx 2017-2018 consortium, involving Styrian rescue organizations, which was in Eisenerz.

EU Module Exercise 2018 / Lot 3 in Eisenerz, Austria

EU MODEX Group Picture Eisenerz 2018, Austria

 

you can also watch the lessons learned video of the MODEX in Eisenerz, Austria 2018 below:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNSx6W9hGPg

previous Exercises within ModEX

MODEX 2017/2018

 

s part of the cycle of EU module exercises (ModEx) for 2017/2018, 5 module exercises had been carried out and completed in Great Britain, Denmark, Bulgaria, Austria and Romaian.

  1. United Kingdom/ Merseyside, 12.10.-15.10.2017
  2. Denmark/ Tinglev, 26.01.-29.01.2018
  3. Austria/ Eisenerz, 24.05.-27.05.2018
  4. Bulgaria/ Montana, 20.03.-23.03.2018
  5. Romania/ Bucharest, 14.10.-18.10.2018

Click here to see a Video of ModEX Exercise in Tinglev/ Denmark 2018

completed EU Module Exercise (ModEX) in 2019

 

  1. Denmark/ Tinglev, 25.01.-28.01.2019
  2. UK/ Merseyside, 15.03.-18.03.2019
  3. Estonia/ Saaremaa, 11.04. – 14.04.2019
  4. Portugal/ Fogueteiro Village, 04. – 07.11.2019

Click here to see a Video of ModEX Exercise in Portugal 2019

 

EU Modex 2019-2020

 

D.M.A.T. Consulting KG will again conduct in Eisenerz a MODEX 2020, this time with 3 Medium Urban Search and Rescue Teams(MUSAR), 1 Cave rescue team, one Emergency Temporary Shelter (ETC) and 2 drone teams.

 

EU-ModEX Pre Exercise Meeting Group Picture in Lisbon, Portugal

 

EU Plug In eXercise (PIX)

Exercise Overview

The exercises are so-called “PlugIn Exercises”. A corresponding number of teams should “dock” on an existing exercise and try out all processes – from deploying, arrival in the country, the inclusion of exercises up to relocating. Thus, the entire course of a disaster cycle is played through – from the beginning of a disaster, the national assistance, the request for international assistance, the entry and the arrival of international teams in the country concerned up to the relocation practiced

The Project Description:

Design, plan, conduct and self-evaluate 2 Plug In eXercises.

The Project’s Funder and Partners:

This Project is funded by European Union Civil Protection.

The Project’s Partners are:

Project’s Partners

The Exercise Objective:

The PIX was designed, planned, conducted and evaluated in close cooperation with the European Commission and the hosting organisations. The PIX provided real life circumstances to test and learn for international activations of the mechanism, including the interactions of EU- modules EUCPT (including TAST) and UNDAC. Specific focus on the broader emergency response community including humanitarian and other relevant international actors, also considering civil/military relations. PIX splits into two sub-exercises, the two PIX were conducted in the Caribbean with the Royal Dutch Navy as main contributor in September 2019.

 

Group Picture for EU Plug-In Caribbien Coast Exercise 2019

 

EU Table Top eXercise (TTX)

Lot3 – HNS TTX

Exercise Overview

The exercises are so-called Table Top Exercises (TTX)  / staff exercises on “Host Nation Support“, focusing on in-depth training of the key personnel. It covers the entire course of a disaster cycle – from the beginning of a disaster, national assistance, the request for international assistance, entry, transit and the arrival of international teams in the affected country to the relocation.

Exercise Framework:

Cooperation between all civil protection actors involved in emergency management so that any international assistance can be integrated quickly and effectively within the local emergency response mechanisms.

The Host National Support (HNS) Guidelines aim at assisting and supporting the affected participating state to receive international assistance in the most effective and efficient manner, whether in the preparedness or disaster response phases.

The Project’s Funder and Partners:

This project is funded by European Union Civil Protection

the Partners are:

 

Project’s Partners

 

Exercise Objective:

The objective of the HNS TTX is to practice emergency response structures at strategic and operational levels, and improve inter-institutional co-operation in the area of Host Nation Support, also through Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs). The ultimate objective is to remove as much as possible any foreseeable obstacles to international assistance. This ensures that disaster response operations proceed smoothly.

Within the project, three HNS TTX will be conducted –

  • in Austria/Eisenerz (is conducted 21.-24.05.2019)
  • in Albania/Mirdita (is conducted 02.-05.07.2019)
  • finally in Ghana/Accra (is planned 03.-06.12.2019)

TTX1 Exercise Participants (Austria):

The participants were 15 experts from Austria and 25 members from 12 Nations (Ghana, Spain, France, Norway, Italy, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovenia).

Group Picture for IDMEX TTX 1 in Austria Eisenerz

 

TTX2 in Albania (Mirdita)

The Participant were 13 members from 9 different Nations

Group Picture of TTX2 for the Participants, Trainers in Albania

TTX3 in Ghana (Accra)

10 Nations were involved at the 3rd EU Host National Support (HNS) Exercise in Ghana

Opening of Host National Support Exercise in Ghana

Group Picture of the Consortium at the EU HNS Exercise in Ghana December 2019