Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (Ghana)
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The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was the government of Ghana from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979.
4 June military coup[]
The AFRC came to power in a coup that removed the Supreme Military Council, another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979, when Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings and other ranks were arrested. Their trial only served to make them popular till they were eventually released on the morning of June 4 by young officers and noncommissioned officers inspired by Rawlings. During the fighting that ensued throughout the day, a number of military personnel lost their lives. These include Major General Odartey-Welllington who led the government's resistance to the coup d'état. Others who fell that day included another officer, Colonel Joseph Enningful who was a former Commander of the Support Services of the Ghana Armed Forces. Other soldiers who died that day include Second-Lieutenant J. Agyemang Bio, Corporal William Tingan, Lance Corporal Sorkpor, Trooper Samuel Larsey, Trooper Emmanuel Koranteng-Apau, Lance Corporal Gabriel Follivi and Lance Corporal Mamudu Kalifa. They were all buried with full military honours at the Osu Military Cemetery in Accra.[1]
House cleaning exercise[]
The regime started a 'House cleaning' exercise against corruption. Three former military leaders of Ghana, Lt. Gen. Afrifa, Gen. Acheampong and Lt. Gen. Akuffo were all executed together with five other senior officers[2] deemed to have been corrupt by the special courts set up by the government.[3] Numerous business entrepreneurs were also targeted and unlawfully had their assets confiscated by the AFRC government including J. K. Siaw.
The AFRC allowed already scheduled elections to go ahead and handed over to the duly elected Dr. Hilla Limann of the People's National Party who became the only president of the Third Republic of Ghana.
Membership[]
The AFRC consisted of 15 members.[4]
AFRC Members[] | |||||
Position | Name | Dates | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head of state of Ghana and Chairman | Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | |||
Official Spokesman | Captain Kojo Boakye-Djan[5] | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | |||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – ?[4] | Died following traffic accident | |||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | [6] | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | |||
Member | Lance Corporal Peter Tasiri[6] | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | |||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 | ||||
Member | Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 |
- Captain Henry Smith – one of the architects of the uprising and described by officers and soldiers in June 1979 as the officer who was responsible for the success of the uprising – declined membership of the AFRC. He was, nevertheless, given the portfolio of "special duties" and was also put in charge of the Foreign Affairs ministry.
- Lieutenant Commander H. C. Apaloo died in a road traffic accident before the end of AFRC rule.[4]
Commissioners[]
Commissioners were in place of Ministers of state and most carried on from the previous government. A number of commissioners had to cover additional ministries during the period of the AFRC.
List of commissioners (ministers) of state[] | |||||
Portfolio | Commissioner | Time frame | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs | Gloria Amon Nikoi[7] | 1979 | |||
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice | A. N. E. Amissah[8] | 26 June 1979– ? | |||
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning | Dr. J. L. S. Abbey[7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism | |||||
Commissioner for Interior and Inspector General of Police |
C. O. Lamptey | 1979 – 26 June 1979 | |||
Ben Forjoe[8] | 26 June 1979 – ? | ||||
Commissioner for Lands, Natural Resources | George Benneh[7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Fuel and Power | |||||
Commissioner for Industries | [7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Labour and Social Welfare | |||||
Commissioner for Transport and Communications | [7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Works and Housing | |||||
Commissioner for Agriculture | [7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Information | Kwame Afreh[9] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs | |||||
Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives | 1979 – 26 June 1979 | ||||
Kofi Badu[7][8] | 26 June 1979 –? | ||||
Commissioner for Local Government & Commissioner for Sports |
Kofi Badu | 1979 – 26 June 1979 | |||
[8][7] | 26 June 1979 – ? | ||||
Commissioner for Education and Culture | Emmanuel Evans-Anfom[7] | 1979 | |||
Commissioner for Health | |||||
Regional Commissioners | |||||
Ashanti Regional Commissioner | 1979 | ||||
Brong Ahafo Region | 1979 | ||||
Central Region | [7] | 1979 | |||
Eastern Region | [7] | 1979 | |||
Greater Accra Regional Commissioner | [7] | 1979 | |||
Northern Region | 1979 | ||||
Upper Region | 1979 | ||||
Volta Regional Commissioner | 1979 | ||||
Western Region | [7] | 1979 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Eight Top Officers Executed". Ghana News. Washington: Embassy of Ghana. 8 (7): 6. July 1979. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ Kwaku Sakyi-Addo (2007-03-01). "The reality of Ghana's independence". Part Two of Ghana, Winds Of Change was broadcast on BBC World Service on Monday 5 March at 0930 UTC. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "Historical Development of the Courts after Independence". Official Website. Judicial Service of Ghana. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Security Services" (PDF). Report of the National Reconciliation Commission. Ghana government. October 2004. p. 46. Archived from the original (pdf) on October 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
- ^ Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 218. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Membership of the AFRC". Ghana News. Washington: Embassy of Ghana. 8 (7): 6. July 1979. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m "New Portfolios For Commissioners". Ghana News. Washington: Embassy of Ghana. 8 (7): 10. July 1979. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 219. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
- ^ "New Portfolios For Commissioners". Ghana News. Washington: Embassy of Ghana. 8 (7): 9. July 1979. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- Conflicts in 1979
- Military of Ghana
- Military coups in Ghana
- Governments of Ghana
- Politics of Ghana
- 1979 establishments in Ghana
- 1979 disestablishments in Ghana
- June 1979 events in Africa
- July 1979 events in Africa
- August 1979 events in Africa
- September 1979 events in Africa
- 1970s coups d'état and coup attempts