Supreme Military Council (Ghana)

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Ghana
Constitution

The Supreme Military Council (SMC) was the ruling government of Ghana from October 9, 1975 to June 4, 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.

SMC I and II

The period of the SMC can be divided into two eras. These are :

  • Acheampong era - SMC - 1 (October 9, 1975 - July 5, 1978)
  • Akuffo era - SMC 2 - (July 5, 1978 - June 4, 1979)

The SMC was overthrown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on June 4, 1979. This was a bloody coup during which one of the SMC members, the Army Commander Major General Odartey-Wellington was killed.

Members of the Acheampong government

The council consisted of the Head of state and all service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces. The head of the police was also included.

Office Name Dates
Head of state and ChairmanGeneral Ignatius Kutu Acheampong9 October 1975 - 5 July 1978
Chief of the Defence StaffLieutenant General Lawrence A. Okai
Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo
9 October 1975 - November 1976
November 1976 - July 1978
Chief of Army StaffLieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo
Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
9 October 1975 - November 1976
November 1976 - July 1978
Chief of Naval StaffRear Admiral C.K. Dzang
Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume
9 October 1975 - June 1977
June 1977 - July 1978
Chief of Air StaffBrigadier Charles Beausoliel
Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye
9 October 1975 - 11 November 1976
12 November 1976 - 5 July 1978
Border Guards CommanderMajor General E. K. Utuka
Inspector General of PoliceErnest Ako
Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye
9 October 1975 - July 1978
July 1978 June 1979

The various commissioners were designated as members of the National Redemption Council as membership of the SMC was limited to the Head of State, the Inspector General of Police and the various military service commanders.

Office Name Dates
Commissioner for Foreign AffairsMajor Roger Felli1975 - ?
Commissioner for Internal Affairs
Inspector General of Police
Ernest Ako
Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye
9 October 1975 - July 1978
July 1978 June 1979
Commissioner for DefenceColonel Kutu Acheampong9 October 1975 - July 1978
Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice
Edward Nathaniel Moore9 October 1975 - ?
Commissioner for Finance and Economic AffairsColonel Kutu Acheampong
Robert K. A. Gardiner
J. L. S. Abbey
9 October 1975 - ?
14 October 1975 May 1978
? ?
Commissioner for Local GovernmentLt. Col. B. K. Ahlijah
Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson
C. K. Tedam
9 October 1975 - ?
? ?
? ?
Commissioner for Agriculture[1]Lt. Col. Paul K. Nkegbe
Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington
Colonel Samuel Akwagiram
1977 1979
1979
1979
Commissioner for HealthColonel J. C. Adjeitey
Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey
Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operativesRear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume
Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral ResourcesGroup Captain T. T. Kutin
Brigadier K. Osei-Boateng
Lt. Col. Abdulai Ibrahim
Commissioner for IndustryColonel George Minyila
Colonel B. K. Ahlijah
Commissioner for Works and HousingLt. Col. K. A. Jackson
Major Edward Yirimambo
Commissioner for Trade and TourismColonel K. E. Quarshie
Commissioner for Transport and CommunicationsColonel David A. Iddisah
Group Captain T. T. Kutin
Eric R.K. Dwemoh
Commissioner for Education, Culture and SportsLieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe
Commissioner for Education, Youth and SportsEllis Owusu-Fordwor
Commissioner for InformationMajor General Robert E. A. Kotei
Colonel Parker H.S. Yarney
Commissioner for SportsColonel Kutu Acheampong
Commissioner for Cocoa AffairsCaptain J. A. Kyeremeh
Commissioner for SMC AffairsE. K. Buckman
Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of StateJoe Emmanuel Appiah
Commissioner for Consumer AffairsKofi Badu
Commissioner for Fuel and PowerLieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim
Ashanti RegionMajor R. Kujiku
Commander Godwin E. Osei
Brong Ahafo RegionWing Commander O. K. Abrefa
Central RegionMajor Dawuni
Eastern RegionCommander G. E. Osei
Greater Accra RegionMajor R. Kujiku
Northern RegionLieutenant-Colonel R. Zumah
Upper RegionLieutenant-Colonel M. Ofori-Akuamoah
Volta RegionLieutenant-Colonel G. K. Amevor
Western RegionLieutenant-Commander John A.K. Otoo

Palace coup

Following a bloodless palace coup on 5 July 1978, the SMC was reconstituted. General Acheeampng was forced to resign as head of state and placed under house arrest. This government remained in power until its overthrow eleven months later by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on 4 June 1979.

Office Name Dates
Head of state and ChairmanLieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of the Defence StaffMajor General Robert E. A. Kotei
Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu
5 July 1978 - 23 July 1978
July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Army StaffMajor General Neville Odartey-Wellington5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Naval StaffRear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Air StaffAir Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Border Guards CommanderMajor General E. K. Utuka
Major General K. Osei Boateng[2]
5 July 1978 - ?
? - 4 June 1979
Inspector General of PoliceErnest Ako
Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye
July 1978
17 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Preceded by
National Redemption Council (1972-1975)
Governments of Ghana
(Military Regime)

19751979
Succeeded by
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (1979)

Monday 4th June 1979

References

  1. "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. Tagoe, George (6 May 2004). Genesis Four. Trafford Publishing. Retrieved 9 September 2012.

Sources

External sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.