National Redemption Council Explained

Government Name:National Redemption Council
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State:Ghana
Leader Title:Chairman (Ignatius Kutu Acheampong)
Address:Accra

The National Redemption Council (NRC) was the ruling Ghana military government from 13 January 1972 to 9 October 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I. K. Acheampong, who was thus also the head of state of Ghana.

Duration of rule

The NRC came into power through a bloodless coup d'état, led by Acheampong, which overthrew the democratically elected Progress Party (PP) government of Dr. K. A. Busia, taking place while Dr. Busia was in the United Kingdom for medical reasons. The constitution was suspended and all political parties banned. One of the main grievances leading to the coup had been the currency devaluations undertaken under the PP regime.[1]

13 January 1972

Acheampong is reported to have been promoted to Colonel just two days prior to the coup to "secure his loyalty" for the Busia government. He was also the commander of the First Infantry Brigade at the time (now Southern Command of the Ghana Army). He collaborated with three officers, Major Agbo, Major Baah and Major Selormey, whose military units were vital for the bloodless coup. Agbo is quoted as stating that Acheampong was brought in at the latter stages to support the coup.[2] Agbo was the second-in-command of the First Infantry Battalion at Tema, Selormey was the second-in-command of the armored regiment and Baah was the second-in-command of the Fifth Infantry Battalion in Accra.[3] Acheampong stated in the nationwide broadcast to announce the coup that:

I bring you good tidings; Busia's hypocrisy has been detected. We, in the Ghana Armed Forces, have today taken over the Government from Busia and his ruling Progress Party. With immediate effect, the Constitution is withdrawn, Parliament is dissolved, the Progress Party and all political parties are banned.

9 October 1975

On 9 October 1975, the NRC was replaced by the Supreme Military Council.[4] Its composition consisted of Acheampong, the chairman, who was also promoted straight from Colonel to General. The others included the military hierarchy including all military service commanders such as Lt. Gen. Akuffo the Chief of Defence Staff, and the army, navy, air force and Border Guards commanders respectively. Some officers were promoted, some changed portfolios and many others were dropped. The Commanders of the First and Second Infantry Brigades of the Ghana Army were also included.[5] It is thought that this coup removed Agbo, Baah and Selormey, whom Acheampong had begun to see as a threat. It also made the various service commanders in charge of both the military and the state as there had been some tensions between relatively junior officers in government and the senior commanders of the Armed Forces.[2]

Programmes

The NRC government embarked on various programmes to help improve the economy. One of its most successful was the "Operation Feed Yourself" programme which encouraged self-reliance on home-grown food by encouraging both large scale and small scale farming. This started well but is ultimately seen as a failure in the end.[6] It was during this era that the National Pledge was also introduced. This was to be recited on national occasions. The government also revalued the national currency which had been devalued by the Busia government by 42 per cent.[7] It also repudiated some of the national debt in February 1972.[8] On 4 August 1974, the "Operation Keep Right" was implemented which changed Ghana's road traffic from driving on the left as introduced by the United Kingdom to driving on the right in harmony with its neighbouring West African states where traffic circulation was on the right.[9] This was supervised by Akuffo who was the Border Guards commander at the time. The NRC government also implemented the official conversion of units of measurement in the country to the metric system on 1 September 1975.[10]

Foiled coup attempts

There were several attempts to overthrow the NRC government. None of them resulted in bloodshed. In November 1972, 8 people were found guilty by a military tribunal for plotting to overthrow the government. They were Staff Sergeant S. J. Opon-Nyantekyi, Daniel D. O. Attakora, Emil W. K. Adzima who was the former press secretary to Kofi Busia, George K. A. Ofosu-Amaah, who was a senior lecturer in law at the University of Ghana and Director of the Special Branch (national intelligence unit) in the Busia regime, Private C. Adu Boateng, Sergeant W. Agyare, Private K. Oduro and Sergeant G. Nimako.[11]

In August 1973, Kojo Botsio, a minister in the Nkrumah CPP government together with others was arrested for planning to overthrow the government.[8]

In December 1973, three out of five accused persons were found guilty of subversion by a military tribunal. The guilty were Imoru Ayarna, former leader of the disbanded People's Action Party, Kojo Botsio and John Tettegah. Albert Kwaku Owusu-Boateng was jailed for 30 years for concealing the plot while Air Force Major Alexander A. Awuviri was acquitted and discharged.[12]

In 1976, a coup plot referred to as the "One Man One Matchet" coup was foiled. The plotters included Brigadier Khattah, the leader, who escaped arrest and the others were Kojo Tsikata, a retired Ghana Army captain, Victor Latzoo, a retired lieutenant in the Ghana Army, Staff Sergeant Godfried K. Amereka, Warrant Officer H. Raphael Nyatepeh, Captain Gustav K. Banini, Corporal John Gbeeze, Francis Agboada and Michael Hamenoo.[13] Tsikata, Staff Sergeant Godfried Amereka, Warrant Officer Raphael Nyatepeh, Francis Agboada and Michael Hamenoo were sentenced to death. Two others were sentenced to eighteen years in jail.[14]

Members of the NRC

The NRC was made up of Acheampong, the various service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, four other army officers of the rank of Major and a civilian who was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

List of members

width=200 Officewidth=400 Namewidth=150 Startwidth=150 End
Head of state and Chairman Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong[15] 13 January 1972 9 October 1975
13 January 1972 December 1974[16]
13 January 1972 ?
13 January 1972 ?
13 January 1972 ?
13 January 1972 September 1974
Member Colonel J. C. Adjeitey[17] 13 January 1972
Member Lt. Colonel C.D. Benni[18] 13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Member Lt. Colonel Kwame R.M. Baah (then Major)13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Member Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey (then Major)13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Member Lt. Colonel K. B. Agbo (then Major)13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Member 13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Member Commander Boham 13 January 1972 ?
Member Lt. Colonel Barnor[19] 1972
Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice; Member 13 January 1972 9 October 1975

List of commissioners in NRC government

width=200 Officewidth=400 Namewidth=150 Startwidth=150 End
1972 1972
Major Kwame Baah[20] 1972 9 October 1975
J. H. Cobbina[21] 13 January 1972 September 1974
September 1974 October 1975
13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice
13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Colonel Kutu Acheampong13 January 1972 ?
Major Roger J. A. Felli[22]
Amon Nikoi
(Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning)
? 9 October 1975
Colonel Victor Coker-Appiah[23]
13 January 1972 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Agriculture[24] 1972 1973
1973 1975
1975
Colonel J. C. Adjeitey? ?
Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey[25] 1 May 1973 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operativesMajor Kwame Asante[26] 1972 1973
1973 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources
Major General D. C. K. Amenu[27] ? 9 October 1975
1972 ?
Lt. Col. George Minyila? 9 October 1975
1972 1972
1972 1974
Colonel R. E. A. Kotei[28] ? 9 October 1975
1972 ?
1974 9 October 1975
Lt. Col. Anthony Selormey[29] 1972 1973
1973 April 1974
Colonel Peter Kwame Agyekum April 1974 9 October 1975
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe[30]
Colonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante[31]
(Commissioner for Education, Youth and Culture)
? 9 October 1975
Colonel Kutu Acheampong ?
1974 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs
Commander J. A. Kyeremeh ? October 1975
Commissioner for NRC Affairs Lt. Colonel C.D. Benni[32]
E. K. Buckman ? October 1975

List of regional commissioners in NRC government

width=200 Officewidth=400 Namewidth=150 Startwidth=150 End
Lt. Colonel E. A. Baidoo January 1972 May 1974
Commander Joy K. Amedume[33] May 1974 9 October 1975
Commander J. A. Kyeremeh 1972 1974
1974 30 April 1975
Lt. Col. O. K. Abrefa May 1975 October 1975
Colonel Frank Bernasko 1972 1973
1973 May 1974
Lt. Col. E. A. Baidoo May 1974 9 October 1975
1972 ?
Lt. Col. George Minyila 1973 1975
Lt. Col. Kweku Adade Takyi 1975 October 1975
14 January 1972 29 May 1972
Lt. Colonel Philip K. D. Habadah[34] 30 May 1972 9 October 1975
Lt. Colonel D. A. Iddisah 1972 ?
Col. P. K. Agyekum 1973 April 1974
Lt. Col. Festus F. Addae April 1974 9 October 1975
Upper Region Lt. Colonel George Minyila1972 ?
Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey 30 May 1972 30 August 1975
Major Michael Ofori-Akuamoah ? October 1975
1972 May 1973
Colonel E. O. Nyante[35] May 1973 January 1974
Col. J. A. Kabore[36] January 1974 9 October 1975
Colonel P. A. Agyekum 1972 ?
Commander J. A. Kyeremeh 1974
Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey 1 September 1975 9 October 1975
width=250 Officewidth=200 Namewidth=200 Dateswidth=200 Notes
Secretary to the CabinetNathan Quao1972–1973
1973–1976
1976–1978

Some programmes of the NRC

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ghana - The National Redemption Council Years, 1972-79 . 2007-03-20 . November 1994 . Library of Congress Studies Country Profile . Federal Research Division, Library of Congressm, USA.
  2. Book: Singh . Naunihal . Seizing power : the strategic logic of military coups . 26 August 2014 . Johns Hopkins University Press . Baltimore, Maryland . 978-1421413365 . 89 & 139.
  3. Book: Bennet, Valerie Plave . Austin . Dennis . Luckham . Robin . Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana, 1966–1972 . 1975 . Frank Cass and Company Limited. London . 978-0714630496 . 305. Epilogue:Malcontents in Uniform.
  4. Encyclopedia: Ghana . 2007-03-20 . 2007 . Encyclopædia Britannica Online . Encyclopædia Britannica .
  5. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988809786 . 195.
  6. Book: Owusu-Ansah . David . Historical dictionary of Ghana . 2005 . Scarecrow Press . Lanham, Md. . 978-0-8108-5328-7 . 196 . 3rd.
  7. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 172.
  8. Book: Owusu-Ansah . David . Historical dictionary of Ghana . 2005 . Scarecrow Press . Lanham, Md. . 978-0-8108-5328-7 . Chronology . lv-lvi . 3rd.
  9. News: Ghana Goes Right . Daily Telegraph (London) . August 5, 1974 . Page 13 .
  10. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 193.
  11. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 177.
  12. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 183.
  13. Book: Asamoah . Obed Y. . The political history of Ghana (1950-2013) : the experience of a non-conformist . 2014 . Bloomington, IN . 978-1496985644.
  14. Ghanaian Death Sentence Based On Torture Evidence . Campaign for the Abolition of Torture . 1 September 1976 . III . 9 . 1 . 23 December 2021 . Amnesty International.
  15. Book: Members of the National Redemption Council . 2006 . Public Relations Department, Ghana . 9789988809782 . 404100555 .
  16. Web site: Past General Officers Commanding /Chiefs of the Defence Staff . www.gaf.mil.gh . Ghana Armed Forces . 24 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130408093329/http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=57&Itemid=89 . 8 April 2013.
  17. Web site: INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE COUNTRY PROFILE - GHANA . International Development Research Centre . 4 January 2023 . Ottawa, Canada . 5 . April 1973.
  18. Book: Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thru' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra, Ghana . 9988809786 . 171.
  19. Book: Austin . Dennis . Luckham . Robin . Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 . 1975 . Cass . London . 978-0714630496 . 304 . 1st.
  20. Ghanan and GDR Sign Trade Agreement . Ghana News . 31 March 1974 . 6 . 6/74 . 3 . 28 December 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
  21. Book: Paxton . J. . The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73 . 14 Sep 1972 . Macmillan . 978-0333124062 . 309 . 22 August 2019.
  22. Book: Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra, Ghana . 9988809786 . 184.
  23. Book: Know your commissioners. . Public Relations Dept., Accra . 12 April 2021 . English . 1972. 404100564 .
  24. Web site: Former Heads of MoFA . 7 August 2012 . Official website . Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
  25. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988809786 . 185.
  26. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988809786 . 174.
  27. Nkrumah . I. K. . 'Enforce Forestry Laws' . Daily Graphic . 6 December 1974 . 7513 . 9 October 2022 . Graphic Communications Group . Accra . en.
  28. Book: Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra, Ghana . 9988809786 . 185.
  29. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988809786 . 188.
  30. Book: Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thru' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra, Ghana . 9988809786 . 182.
  31. Paxton . John . Ghana . The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1974–1975 . 1974 . 310–316 . 10.1057/9780230271036. 12 December 2022 . Palgrave Macmillan UK . 9780230271036 . en.
  32. Web site: INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE COUNTRY PROFILE - GHANA . International Development Research Centre . 4 January 2023 . Ottawa, Canada . 6 . April 1973.
  33. Book: Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. . 2006 . Graphic . Accra . 9988809786 . 187.
  34. Book: Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Ghana . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra, Ghana . 9988809786 . 185.
  35. Web site: AKPAKLI . INNOCENT . Creation of New Regions (Volta at a glance) . GhTrendz.com . 4 January 2023 . 19 September 2017.
  36. Book: Nugent . Paul Christopher . "National Integration and the Vicissitudes of State Power in Ghana: The Political Incorporation of Likpe, a Border Community, 1945-19B6" - A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London . October 1991 . ProQuest LLC . 201 . 13 December 2022.