Provisional National Defence Council Explained

Government Name:	Provisional National Defence Council
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State:	Ghana
Leader Title:	Chairman (Jerry Rawlings)
Address:	Accra

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, in a coup d'état on 31 December 1981. He remained in power until 7 January 1993. In a statement, Rawlings said that a "holy war" was necessary due to the PNP's failure to provide effective leadership and the collapse of the national economy and state services.

The PNDC was a military dictatorship that induced civilians to participate in governance. Most of its members were civilians. Its policies reflected a revolutionary government that was pragmatic in its approach. The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt Ghana's economic decay, stabilize the economy, and stimulate economic growth. The PNDC also brought a change in the people's attitude from a 'government will provide' position to participating in nation-building.

The PNDC provided a new constitution in 1992 and held elections that year. Rawlings's party, the NDC, won the presidential election with 58% of the vote. 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

Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, who had been retired by the Limann government, was recalled as Chief of Defence Staff and the second-in-command of the PNDC. Reverend Damuah was an outspoken priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Ghana. Joachim Amartey Quaye was a labour leader who led a strike at the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC) and was removed by Hilla Limann's government. Chris Bukari Atim was a student leader and friend of Jerry Rawlings. Adjei Buadi and Akata Pore were junior ranks in the Ghana Air Force.^[2]

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.^[3]

Additions

• Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin- appointed August 1982^{[4] [5]}
• Ebo Tawiah - appointed August 1982^[4]
• Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri - appointed January 1983
• Justice D.F. Annan- appointed 1984^[6]
• Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu - appointed October 1984^{[7] [8]}
• Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata - July 1985^[8]
• P. V. Obeng - July 1985^[8]
• Major General Arnold Quainoo
• Maj. Gen. Winston C.M. Mensa-Wood
• Captain (rtd) Kingsley Bruce
• Air Vice Marshal A. H. K. Dumashie
• Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant - appointed 1989^[5]
• Mrs. Susanna Al-Hassan - appointed 1985^[5]

Departures

• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo Mensah - resigned 1982
• Rev. Dr. Kwabena Damuah - resigned 1982
• Warrant Officer I Mumuni Seidu- resigned June 1994
• Warrant Officer I Joseph Adjei Buadi - resigned December 1984
• Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore - 1982
• Joachim Amartey Quaye - executed August 1982^[9]
• Chris Bukari Atim - resigned 1982
• Ebo Tawiah
• Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri - died 25 August 1984^[7]
• Brigadier W. M. Mensa-Wood
• Captain Kingsley Bruce
• Mrs. Susanna Al-Hassan - departed 1987
• Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin - left in 1989

August 1992 onwards — final membership

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

Membership

PNDC Members
width=250	Position	width=300	Name	width=120	From	width=120	To	width=300	Notes
Head of state of Ghana and Chairman		December 1981	January 1993
	Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah^[10]	January 1982	November 1982	Reappointed Chief of Defence Staff
Member	Vincent Kwabena Damuah^[11]	January 1982	1982	Catholic priest
Member	Warrant Officer I Joseph Adjei Buadi^[12]	January 1982	December 1984^[13]	Coordinator for the Armed Forces Defence Committees^[14]
Member		January 1982	1982	Secretary Armed Forces Defence Committee^[15]
Member		January 1982	August 1982	Union leader
Member		January 1982	1982	General Secretary of the June Fourth Movement, Former First national vice president of the National Union of Ghana Students
Member	Aanaa Naamua Enin^[16]	August 1982^[17]	December 1989
Member		August 1982	?	Trade Union leader
Member	Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu^[18]	October 1984	January 1993	Politician and businessman
Member		July 1985	January 1993	National Security and Foreign Affairs, Retired soldier
Chairman of Committee of Secretaries		July 1985	January 1993	Former student leader and Mechanical Engineer
Member		1982	January 1993	Chief of Defence Staff
Member		1983^[19]	1984	Nandom Naa Died in office
Member and Chairman of the National Commission for Democracy		1984	January 1993	Retired Appeals Court Judge
Member		1985	1987	Ghana's first female minister in 1961 and author
Member		1987	1992	Chief of the Defence Staff Died in office
Member		1989	January 1993	Medical doctor
Member		1992	January 1993	Chief of Defence Staff

Secretaries

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

List of secretaries (ministers) of state
width=250	Portfolio	width=300	Secretary	width=120	From	width=120	To	width=300	Notes
Chairman of Committee of Secretaries		1982	1993
		January 1982	1993
	Johnny F. S. Hansen^[20]	January 1982	Apr 1982
	J. M. Ewa	Apr 1982	Dec 1982
	Kofi Djin	Dec 1982	Nov 1985
	Major General Winston Mensa-Wood^[21]	Nov 1985	Oct 1987
		Oct 1987	May 1991
		May 1991	Mar 1992
		Mar 1992	Jan 1993
	Kwesi Botchwey^[22]	1982	1993
	Naa Polku Konkuu Chirii^[23]	1982	Nov 1983
		22 Nov 1983	1985
		1985	6 Jan 1993
		January 1982	1992
	E.G. Tanoh	1992	1993
		January 1982	1983
	V. C. Dadson^[24]	1983	?
		1985	1987
	Mohammed Ben Abdallah^[25]	1986	1987
		1988	1989
		1989	1993
Secretary for Agriculture^[26]	Eugene Bortei-Doku^[27]	January 1982	Dec 1983
	John Akparibo Ndebugre	1984	1985
	Isaac Adjei-Marfo^[28]	1985	1986
		1986	1992
		1992	1993
Secretary for Cocoa Affairs	Isaac Adjei-Marfo	?	?
Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs	E.G. Tanoh	1987	1992
		1992	1993
Secretary for Trade Secretary for Trade and Tourism	K. B. Asante^[29]	January 1982	1986
		1986	1992
	John Bawa	1992	1993
Secretary for Culture and Tourism		January 1982	1984
		?	1986
		January 1982	1982
	Kwame Dwemoh-Kesse	1983	?
	William H. Yeboah	1986	?
	Kofi Acquaah Harrison		?
		1986	1988
		?	?
Secretary for Rural Development and Co-operatives	Kofi Ankomah	January 1982	1982
	Kofi Acquaah Harrison	1982	1986
Secretary for Fuel and Power	E. Appiah Korang	January 1982^[30]	1987
		1987	1993
		January 1982	1986
	Kwame M. Peprah	1986	1987
	Yaw Donkor	1987	1992
	Kwame M. Peprah	1992	1993
Secretary for Roads and Highways	Yaw E. O. Donkor	1983	1987
	Mensah Gbedemah	1987	1992
	Richard Commey	1992	1993
Secretary for Lands and Natural Resources	Kwesi Renner	1983	1986
	George Adamu	1986	1987
	Kwame Peprah	1987	1992
	J. A. Dansoh	1992	1993
	Kaku Kyiamah	January 1982	1983
		1983	1986
		1986	1992
	K. A. Butah	1992	1993
	Ato Austin^[31]	January 1982	1983
		1983	1985
		1985	1993
	Charles Buadu	1983	1986
	E. G. Tanoh^[32]		?
		1986	1988
		1988	1991
	Stephen Obimpeh	1992	1993
Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare Secretary for Mobilization and Productivity	Adisa Munkaila	1982	1983
		1983	1986
	W. H. Yeboah	1986	1987
	Huudu Yahaya^[33]		?
	George Adamu	?	1992
		1992	1993
	Mawuse Dake^[34]	January 1982	1983^[35]
		1983	?
	Kofi Sam		?
	Emmanuel Appiah Korang
	Kenneth Ampratwum
Secretary for Youth and Sports	Zaya Yeebo^[36]	January 1982	1983
		1983	1986
		1986	1992
		1992	1993
National Defence Committee		1983	?
PDCs and WDCs	Akrasi-Sarpong		?
Regional Secretaries
	J. Y. Ansah	?	?
	F. A. Jantuah	1983	?
	Colonel Osei Owusu
		January 1982	1982
		1982	?
	C. S. Takyi	1983	?
	Colonel Alex Antwi
Central Regional Secretary
		1983	?
	Ato Austin	1988	1993
	Lt. Colonel E. A. Baidoo
		1982	?
		?	1986
	Kofi Acquaah Harrison	1986	?
	Atukwei Okai^[37]	January 1982	1982
	Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah	1983	?
		1982	?
		1985	1986
	Selina Taylor
		1988	1991
		1991	?
	Thomas Ibrahim	1982	?
	D. S. Zachariah
	Kundab Mobilla	1982	?
	J. E. Sakyi
	Yelibora Antumini	1982	1983
	Joseph Yieleh Chireh	1983	?
	Francis Agbley	1982	?
	Yao Fiagbe^[38]
	J. R. E. Amenlema	1982	?
	Don Arthur	1983	?
	Colonel W. A. Thompson^[39]	1986	1988

Notes and References

1. Jeffries, Richard . Thomas, Clare . amp . 1993. The Ghanaian Elections of 1992. African Affairs. 92. 368. 331 - 366. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a098639 .
2. COUNCIL NAMED TO RULE GHANA . The New York Times . 13 January 1982 . 3 . 28 September 2021 . 0362-4331.
3. Web site: Ghana - Libation issue rears up again . 2010-07-22 . African News Bulletin . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20110526134940/http://ospiti.peacelink.it/anb-bia/nr444/e05.html . 2011-05-26 .
4. Book: Asamoah . Obed Y. . The political history of Ghana (1950-2013) : the experience of a non-conformist . 2014 . Bloomington, IN . 978-1496985644 . 299 . 28 September 2021.
5. Web site: Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership . 2010-06-05 . Martin K.I Christensen .
6. Web site: Justice Daniel Francis Annan . 2010-07-18 . Ghana News Agency . Ghana Famous People . Ghana Home Page.
7. Web site: The Rawlings Revolution . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204083037/http://ghanadistricts.com/home/?_=49&sa=4768&ssa=795 . dead . 4 February 2016 . GhanaDistricts.com . 26 December 2012 .
8. Book: Asamoah . Obed Y. . The political history of Ghana (1950-2013) : the experience of a non-conformist . 2014 . Bloomington, IN . 978-1496985644.
9. Web site: "Chapter 2— Ghana in Economic Crisis" in The Politics of Reform in Ghana, 1982–1991 . 2007-04-28 . 32.
10. Web site: The Security Services . 18 December 2021 . National Reconciliation Commission report . October 2004 . 52 . 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 .
11. Tempo of revolution has not changed - Damuah . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 6 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
12. Currency won't be demonitized . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 1 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
13. Book: Ray . Donald I. . Ghana, Politics, Economics and Society . 1986 . Columbia University Pr . 978-0931477621 . 31–34.
14. Book: Akonor . Kwame . Africa and IMF conditionality : the unevenness of compliance, 1983-2000 . 2006 . Routledge . New York . 978-0415979474 . 18 December 2021.
15. Web site: Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada . Ghana: Information on a group called "June Fourth Movement (JFM)" . Refworld . Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada . 19 December 2021 . GHA8974 . en . 1 June 1991.
16. PNDC Members . Ghana News . May 1986 . 15 . 5 . 2. Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
17. Algeria ready with oil aid . Ghana News . January 1983 . 12 . 1 . 11 . 27 September 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
18. Staff College marks 10th year . Ghana News . 1986 . 15 . 8 . 1 . 1 December 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C . en.
19. New PNDC Member . Ghana News . January 1983 . 12 . 1 . 12 . 27 September 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . en.
20. Web site: Past Ministers (3). Official website. Ministry of Interior, Ghana. 14 August 2014. 20 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150120100104/http://www.mint.gov.gh/ministers%20p3.htm. dead.
21. Web site: Past Ministers (2). Official website. Ministry of Interior, Ghana. 14 August 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119204102/http://www.mint.gov.gh/ministers%20p2.htm. 19 January 2015.
22. PNDC Secretaries . Ghana News . May 1986 . 15 . 5 . 2 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C.
23. Web site: MINISTER FOR DEFENCE . www.mod.gov.gh . Ghana Government . 19 March 2020 . 19 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200319225009/http://mod.gov.gh/mod/index.php/minister-for-defence/ . dead .
24. PNDC makes 6 cabinet changes . Ghana News . June 1983 . 12 . 6 . 6 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
25. Changes in Designation of Ministries and Assignment of Portfolios . Ghana News . September 1986 . 15 . 8 . 14 . 1 December 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C . en.
26. Web site: Former Heads of MoFA . 7 August 2012 . Official website . Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
27. Book: 1984 Training for Agriculture and Rural Development . 1985 . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations . Rome . 978-92-5-102139-2 . 87 . 31 October 2021 . en.
28. Ghana To Receive $15 Grant From IFAD . Ghana News . May 1986 . 15 . 5 . 7 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C.
29. Web site: Tawiah . Kofi Owusu . K.B. Asante, the patriot, diplomat and writer . Ghanweb.com . 27 January 2018 . GhanaWeb . 23 May 2019.
30. Civilians appointed to fill cabinet posts . Ghana News . January 1982 . 11 . 1 . 3 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
31. There's need for ideo. direction . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 5 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
32. Ghana In Favour Of National Health Insurance Scheme . Ghana News . May 1986 . 15 . 5 . 7 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C.
33. Clegg . Sam . Yahaya attends ILO confab . Daily Graphic . 29 November 1988 . 11830 . 16 . 2 December 2021 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra . en.
34. PNDC will provide houses for all . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 8 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
35. More changes announced . Ghana News . 1979 . 12 . 3 . 3 . 19 December 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC . en.
36. Web site: Today in history: Ghana won its fourth AFCON title . Ghanaweb.com . 19 March 2018 . GhanaWeb . 20 May 2019.
37. World Statesment (sic) are honoured . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 3 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC.
38. Fiscal Year Changes . Ghana News . June 1982 . 11 . 6 . 8 . 16 December 2021 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington DC . en.
39. PNDC Regional Secretaries . Ghana News . May 1986 . 15 . 5 . 2 . Embassy of Ghana . Washington D C.