Supreme Military Council (Ghana)
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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 Chairman | General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 - 5 July 1978 | |||
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Lieutenant General Lawrence A. Okai Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo | 9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978 | |||
| Chief of Army Staff | Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo Major General Robert E. A. Kotei | 9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978 | |||
| Chief of Naval Staff | Rear Admiral C.K. Dzang Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume | 9 October 1975 - June 1977 June 1977 - July 1978 | |||
| Chief of Air Staff | Brigadier Charles Beausoliel Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye | 9 October 1975 - 11 November 1976 12 November 1976 - 5 July 1978 | |||
| Border Guards Commander | Major General E. K. Utuka | ||||
| Inspector General of Police | Ernest 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 Affairs | Major Roger Felli | 1975 - ? | |||
| 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 Defence | Colonel Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 - July 1978 | |||
| Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice | Edward Nathaniel Moore | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs | Colonel Kutu Acheampong Robert K.A. Gardiner J. L. S. Abbey | 9 October 1975 - ? ? – ? ? – ? | |||
| Commissioner for Local Government | Lt. 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 Health | Colonel J. C. Adjeitey Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington | ||||
| Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives | Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya | ||||
| Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources | Group Captain T. T. Kutin Brigadier K. Osei-Boateng Lt. Col. Abdulai Ibrahim | ||||
| Commissioner for Industry | Colonel George Minyila Colonel B. K. Ahlijah | ||||
| Commissioner for Works and Housing | Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson Major Edward Yirimambo | ||||
| Commissioner for Trade and Tourism | Colonel K. E. Quarshie | ||||
| Commissioner for Transport and Communications | Colonel David A. Iddisah Group Captain T. T. Kutin Eric R.K. Dwemoh | ||||
| Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports | Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe | ||||
| Commissioner for Education, Youth and Sports | Ellis Owusu-Fordwor | ||||
| Commissioner for Information | Major General Robert E. A. Kotei Colonel Parker H.S. Yarney | ||||
| Commissioner for Sports | Colonel Kutu Acheampong | ||||
| Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs | Captain J. A. Kyeremeh | ||||
| Commissioner for SMC Affairs | E. K. Buckman | ||||
| Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of State | Joe Emmanuel Appiah | ||||
| Commissioner for Consumer Affairs | Kofi Badu | ||||
| Commissioner for Fuel and Power | Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim | ||||
| Ashanti Region | Major R. Kujiku Commander Godwin E. Osei | ||||
| Brong Ahafo Region | Lieutenant-Colonel O. K. Abrefa | ||||
| Central Region | Major Dawuni | ||||
| Eastern Region | Commander G. E. Osei | ||||
| Greater Accra Region | Major R. Kujiku | ||||
| Northern Region | Lieutenant-Colonel R. Zumah | ||||
| Upper Region | Lieutenant-Colonel M. Ofori-Akuamoah | ||||
| Volta Region | Lieutenant-Colonel G. K. Amevor | ||||
| Western Region | Lieutenant-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 Chairman | Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Major General Robert E. A. Kotei Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu | 5 July 1978 - 23 July 1978 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of Army Staff | Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of Naval Staff | Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of Air Staff | Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Border Guards Commander | Major General E. K. Utuka Major General K. Osei Boateng[2] | 5 July 1978 - ? ? - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Inspector General of Police | Ernest 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) 1975–1979 |
Succeeded by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (1979) |
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References
- ↑ "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ Tagoe, George (6 May 2004). Genesis Four. Trafford Publishing. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
Sources
- Some of the information here was originally on the German Wikipedia.
External sources
- Ghana-pedia webpage - Supreme Military Council (I)
- Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff
- Past Army Commanders / Chiefs of Army Staff
- Past Chiefs of Naval Staff 1959 - 2000
- Past Chiefs of Air Staff