Frank Bernasko

Frank George Bernasko (7 December 1930 – 3 June 2010)^[1] was a retired Ghanaian soldier, lawyer and politician. He served as the Commissioner for Agriculture among others in the National Redemption Council (NRC) military government of General I.K. Acheampong. He was also the founder and leader of the erstwhile Action Congress Party and contested the presidential election in 1979.

Early life and education

Bernasko was born in Ghana. He completed his basic education at Cape Coast in the Central Region and Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. His secondary education was completed at the Adisadel College also at Cape Coast. He then attended the University of the Gold Coast (now University of Ghana).^[1]

Army career

Bernasko was an officer in the Ghana army and rose to the rank of Colonel. He was once the officer in charge of education at the Armed Forces Recruit Training Center in Kumasi. He also served as the Garrison Education Officer in Accra. He held the position of Director of Studies at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School at Teshie in Accra.^[2] He later became the Director of Education for the Ghana Armed Forces.^[1]

Politics

Military government

After the coup d'état of 13 January 1972 which overthrew the Busia government, he was appointed as the Central Regional Commissioner.^[3][4] He later also served as the Commissioner for Agriculture^[5] and then the Commissioner for the newly created ministry of Cocoa Affairs. He is also credited with being instrumental in the completion of various projects in the Region including the Regional House of Chiefs, the moving of prisons from the Cape Coast Castle and the Anomabo Fort.^[2] While Commissioner for Agriculture, he supervised the "Operation Feed Yourself" programme geared towards ensuring national food self-sufficiency.^[3] Bernasko is also credited with the success of the Dawhenya Irrigation Project and the increased uptake of agriculture which led to the first national agricultural show in 1974.^[1]

1979 elections

Bernasko was one of the founders of the Action Congress Party, which was formed when the ban on party politics was raised in 1978. He contested the presidential elections in 1979 and came fourth, polling over 9% of the valid votes cast.^[6]

National Reconciliation Commission hearings

Bernasko appeared before the National Reconciliation Commission to answer allegations of abuse of human rights while serving as Central Regional Commissioner in the NRC military regime. He denied these allegations.^[7]

Retirement and death

Frank Bernasko took up private legal practise after leaving the NRC government. In later life, he resided in the United Kingdom.^[2] He died in June 2010 at the St George's Hospital at Tooting, in the south of London.^[8]

Honours

Bernasko was honoured by the chiefs and people of the Central Region during the Oguaa Fetu Afahye in 2008. This was in recognition of his services to the region especially when he was the regional Commissioner in the NRC regime.^[3]

References