Fred Akuffo

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Lt. General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo (March 21, 1937 - June 26, 1979) was the Head of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in Ghana from 1978-1979. He came to power in a military coup, was overthrown in another military coup and executed three weeks later.

Fred Akuffo completed his secondary education at the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School in 1955 at Odumase, Ghana. He then enlisted in the Ghana Army and trained at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, UK among others.

While in the army, he served as Commanding Officer of the Airborne Training School at Tamale and later the 6th Battalion of Infantry of the Ghana Armed Forces. He rose to become the 2nd Brigade Commander. In 1974, he supervised the change over of traffic flow in Ghana from driving on the left to driving on the right as part of 'Operation Keep Right.' This change over was successful and largely accident free. He subsequently became the Army Commander.

In 1975, he was appointed a ruling member of the Supreme Military Council Government and also the Chief of Defence Staff. On July 5th 1978, he led a palace coup to overthrow the then Head of State, Gen. I.K. Acheampong. He continued with the on going preparations to return Ghana to constitutional rule but his government was also cut short on June 4, 1979 by a military uprising by the junior ranks led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings.

He was executed along with other senior military officers on June 26, 1979 at the Teshie Military Range, Ghana.

Preceded by Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong

President of Ghana 1978–1979

Succeeded by Jerry Rawlings

Heads of state of Ghana

Kwame Nkrumah | Joseph Arthur Ankrah | Akwasi Afrifa | Nii Amaa Ollennu | Edward Akufo-Addo | Ignatius Kutu Acheamphong | Fred Akuffo | Jerry Rawlings | Hilla Limann | Jerry Rawlings | John Kufuor