Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (Ghana) Explained

Government Name:	Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
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State:	Ghana
Leader Title:	Chairman (Jerry Rawlings)
Address:	Accra

The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was the military Junta that seized power in Ghana from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979.

4 June military coup

See main article: June 4th revolution in Ghana. The AFRC came to power in a coup that removed the Supreme Military Council, another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979, when Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings and other ranks were arrested. Their trial only served to make them popular till they were eventually released on the morning of June 4 by young officers and noncommissioned officers inspired by Rawlings. During the fighting that ensued throughout the day, a number of military personnel lost their lives. These include Major General Odartey-Wellington who led the government's resistance to the coup d'état. Others who fell that day included another officer, Colonel Joseph Enningful who was a former Commander of the Support Services of the Ghana Armed Forces. Other soldiers who died that day include Second-Lieutenant J. Agyemang Bio, Corporal William Tingan, Lance Corporal Sorkpor, Trooper Samuel Larsey, Trooper Emmanuel Koranteng-Apau, Lance Corporal Gabriel Follivi and Lance Corporal Mamudu Kalifa. They were all buried with full military honours at the Osu Military Cemetery in Accra.^[1]

House cleaning exercise

The regime started a 'House cleaning' exercise against corruption. Three former military leaders of Ghana, Lt. Gen. Afrifa, Gen. Acheampong and Lt. Gen. Akuffo were all executed together with five other senior officers^[2] deemed to have been corrupt by the special courts set up by the government.^[3] Numerous business entrepreneurs were also targeted and unlawfully had their assets confiscated by the AFRC government including J. K. Siaw.

The AFRC allowed already scheduled elections to go ahead and handed over to the duly elected Dr. Hilla Limann of the People's National Party who became the only president of the Third Republic of Ghana.

Membership

The AFRC consisted of 15 members.^[4]

AFRC Members
width=250	Position	width=250	Name	width=250	Dates	width=200	Notes
Head of state of Ghana and Chairman		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Official Spokesman	Captain Kojo Boakye-Djan^[5]	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – ?	Died following traffic accident
Member	Captain Kwabena Baah Achamfuor^[6]	19 Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Leading Aircraftman John N. Gatsiko^[7]	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member		Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979

• Captain Henry Smith – one of the architects of the uprising and described by officers and soldiers in June 1979 as the officer who was responsible for the success of the uprising – declined membership of the AFRC. He was, nevertheless, given the portfolio of "special duties" and was also put in charge of the Foreign Affairs ministry.
• Lieutenant Commander H. C. Apaloo died in a road traffic accident before the end of AFRC rule.

Commissioners

Commissioners were in place of Ministers of state and most carried on from the previous government. A number of commissioners had to cover additional ministries during the period of the AFRC.

List of commissioners (ministers) of state
width=250	Portfolio	width=200	Commissioner	width=250	Time frame	width=200	Notes
		1979
	A. N. E. Amissah^[8]	26 June 1979 - ?
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning	Dr. J. L. S. Abbey^[9]	1979
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism
	C. O. Lamptey	1979  - 26 June 1979
		26 June 1979  - ?
Commissioner for Lands, Natural Resources		1979
Commissioner for Fuel and Power
		1979
Commissioner for Labour and Social Welfare
		1979
Commissioner for Works and Housing
	Abeifaa Karbo^[10]	June 1979  - September 1979
	Kwame Afreh^[11]	1979
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs
Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives		1979  - 26 June 1979
		26 June 1979  - ?
Commissioner for Local Government & Commissioner for Sports		1979  - 26 June 1979
		26 June 1979  - ?
Commissioner for Education and Culture		1979
Commissioner for Health
Regional Commissioners
		1979
		1979
		1979
		1979
		1979
		1979
Upper Region		1979
		1979
		1979

See also

• History of Ghana (1966–79)

Notes and References

1. Eight Top Officers Executed . Ghana News . July 1979 . 8 . 7 . 6 . 4 February 2020 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington.
2. Web site: The reality of Ghana's independence . 2007-03-20 . 2007-03-01 . Kwaku Sakyi-Addo . Part Two of Ghana, Winds Of Change was broadcast on BBC World Service on Monday 5 March at 0930 UTC. . British Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20070304194210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6387321.stm. 4 March 2007 . live.
3. Web site: Historical Development of the Courts after Independence . 2007-03-20 . Official Website . Judicial Service of Ghana . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071006085810/http://www.judicial.gov.gh/history/after_indp/page_2.htm . October 6, 2007 .
4. Web site: The Security Services . 2007-05-06 . October 2004 . 46 . Report of the National Reconciliation Commission . Ghana government . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061016012351/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/Vol%204%20Chpt%201%20com.sec.rep.pdf . October 16, 2006 .
5. Book: Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 218.
6. Web site: Ex-AFRC man sets records straight . Modern Ghana . 12 January 2022 . en . 15 July 2003.
7. Membership of the AFRC . Ghana News . July 1979 . 8 . 7 . 6 . 4 February 2020 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington.
8. Book: Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra . 9988-8097-8-6 . 219.
9. New Portfolios For Commissioners . Ghana News . July 1979 . 8 . 7 . 10 . 3 February 2020 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington.
10. Web site: State Burial for Naa Abeifaa Karbo . Modern Ghana . 8 November 2021 . en . 18 January 2005.
11. New Portfolios For Commissioners . Ghana News . July 1979 . 8 . 7 . 9 . 3 February 2020 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington.