Provisional National Defence Council

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The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7, 1993. In a statement explaining the coup d'état, Rawlings explained that a "holy war" was necessary due to the PNP's failure to provide effective leadership and by the collapse of the national economy and state services. The PNDC was a military dictatorship that induced civilians to participate in governance. The majority of Council members were civilians. The PNDC policies reflected a revolutionary government yet pragmatic in its approach. The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt the economic decay, stabilise the economy and consequently stimulate economic growth. Politically, its goal was to establish structures that would effectively allow the people to express their political will. Most significantly, the PNDC, carrying with it the spirit of the June 4, 1979 Uprising, brought to the table a change in the people’s attitude from a ‘government will provide’ position to being proactive in nation-building.

The PNDC eventually released power, provided a new constitution in 1992 and held elections that year, even if John Rawlings' party, the NDC, officially swept that presidential election with over 58%, with the result that the opposition boycotted the subsequent parliamentary elections.^[1]

Members

The seven original members of the PNDC from its inception were as follows:

• Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings - Chairman
• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah - retired Chief of Defence Staff
• Reverend Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah
• Warrant Officer (I) Joseph Adjei Buadi
• Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore
• Joachim Amartey Quaye
• Chris Bukari Atim

Departures and replacements

Over the years, some people were added to the membership and others left. A number left in 1982 due to ideological differences. Joachim Amartey Quaye was executed for his involvement in the murder of three senior judges and a retired army officer. Rev. Damuah who was suspended from the Catholic Church because of his involvement in the government left in late 1982 and started his own church later called the Afrikania Mission, an organization devoted to the promotion of African Traditional Religion.^[2]

August 1992 onwards - Final membership

• Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings - Chairman
• Justice D.F. Annan
• Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama
• Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata
• P.V. Obeng
• Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo
• Air Vice Marshal Dumashie
• Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant

PNDC members

List of secretaries of state

The officials in charge of the various ministries were designated as Secretaries of state.

References

Ghana governments Civilian Nkrumah government Busia government Limann government Rawlings government Kufuor government Mills government Mahama government Military National Liberation Council National Redemption Council Supreme Military Council Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Provisional National Defence Council