Supreme Military Council (Ghana)
The Supreme Military Council (SMC) was the ruling government of Ghana from 9 October 1975 to 4 June 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.
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SMC I and II
The period of the SMC can be divided into two eras. These are :
- Acheampong era - SMC - 1 (October 9, 1975 - July 5, 1978)
- Akuffo era - SMC 2 - (July 5, 1978 - June 4, 1979)
The SMC was overthrown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on June 4, 1979. This was a bloody coup during which one of the SMC members, the Army Commander Major General Odartey-Wellington was killed.
Members of the Acheampong government
The council consisted of the Head of state and all service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces. The head of the police was also included. Many members of the government changed porfolios while others were dropped.[1]
SMC I members (October 1975 to July 1978) | |||||
| Office | Name | Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of state and Chairman | General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 - 5 July 1978 | |||
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Lieutenant General Lawrence Okai | 9 October 1975 - November 1976 | |||
| Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo | November 1976 - July 1978 | ||||
| Chief of Army Staff | Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo | 9 October 1975 - November 1976 | |||
| Major General Robert E. A. Kotei | November 1976 - July 1978 | ||||
| Chief of Naval Staff | Rear Admiral C. K. Dzang | 9 October 1975 - June 1977 | |||
| Rear Admiral Joy Amedume | June 1977 - July 1978 | ||||
| Chief of Air Staff | Brigadier Charles Beausoliel | 9 October 1975 - 11 November 1976 | |||
| Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye | 12 November 1976 - 5 July 1978 | ||||
| Border Guards Commander | Major General E. K. Utuka | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Inspector General of Police | Ernest Ako | 9 October 1975 - July 1978 | |||
| B. S. K. Kwakye | July 1978 – June 1979 | ||||
The various commissioners were designated as members of the National Redemption Council as membership of the SMC was limited to the Head of State, the Inspector General of Police and the various military service commanders.
List of commissioners (NRC members) | |||||
| Office | Name | Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner for Foreign Affairs | Major Roger Felli[2] | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Commissioner for Internal Affairs Inspector General of Police | Ernest Ako | 9 October 1975 - July 1978 | |||
| B. S. K. Kwakye[2] | July 1978 – June 1979 | ||||
| Commissioner for Defence | Colonel Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 – July 1978 | |||
| Lt. General Fred W. K. Akuffo[2] | July 1978 – June 1979 | ||||
| Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice | Gustav Koranteng-Addow[2] | 9 October 1975 - January 1979 | |||
| Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs | Colonel Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Robert Gardiner | 14 October 1975 – May 1978 | ||||
| Colonel E. T. Oklah[2] | 1978 – July 1979 | ||||
| Commissioner for Economic Planning | Lt Col. Kwame Baah | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| J. L. S. Abbey[2] | 1978 – July 1979 | ||||
| Commissioner for Local Government | Lt. Col. Kwame Agbo | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Lt. Col. B. K. Ahlijah | ? – ? | ||||
| Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson | ? – ? | ||||
| C. K. Tedam[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Agriculture[3] | Lt. Col. Paul K. Nkegbe | 1975 – 1979 | |||
| Major General N. A. Odartey-Wellington | 1978 | ||||
| Colonel Samuel Akwagiram[2] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Commissioner for Health | Lt. Colonel Anthony Selormey | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Major General N. A. Odartey-Wellington | ? | ||||
| Abayifa Karbo[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives | Rear Admiral Joy Amedume | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources | Group Captain T. T. Kutin | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Brigadier K. Osei-Boateng | ? | ||||
| Lt. Col. Abdulai Ibrahim | ? | ||||
| George Benneh[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Industry | Colonel George Minyila | ||||
| Colonel B. K. Ahlijah[2][4] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Works and Housing | Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson[5] | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Major Edward Yirimambo[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Trade and Tourism | Colonel K. A. Quashie[2] | ||||
| Commissioner for Transport and Communications | Colonel David A. Iddisah | ||||
| Group Captain T. T. Kutin | |||||
| Eric R.K. Dwemoh | |||||
| George Harlley[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Education and Culture | Ellis Owusu-Fordwor[2] | 9 October 1975 - 1979 | |||
| Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports | Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe | ||||
| Commissioner for Information | Major General Robert E. A. Kotei | 9 October 1975 - ? | |||
| Colonel Parker H. S. Yarney[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Sports | Colonel Kutu Acheampong | 9 October 1975 - 1978 | |||
| E. R. K. Dwemoh[2] | c. 1978 | ||||
| Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs | Captain J. A. Kyeremeh[2] | 9 October 1975 - 1979 | |||
| Commissioner for Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs | Kofi Badu[2] | c. 1978 | |||
| Commissioner for Fuel and Power | Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim[2] | ||||
| Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs | Lt. General Fred W. K. Akuffo[2] | c. 1978 | |||
| Commissioner for NRC Affairs | E. K. Buckman[2] | ||||
| Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of State | Joe Appiah | ||||
| Commissioner for Special Duties | Lt. Colonel C. S. C. Grant[2] | c. 1978 | |||
Regional Commissioners | |||||
| Ashanti Regional Commissioner | Major L. K. Kodjiku[4] | October 1975 – 1977 | |||
| Commander G. E. Osei[6] | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| Colonel R. K. Zumah[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Brong Ahafo Region | Lt. Col. O. K. Abrefa | October 1975 – 1977 | |||
| William Adjei Thompson | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| Lt. Commander L. K. Awuku[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Central Region | Major J. A. Awuni | 1975 – 1977 | |||
| Commander John A. K. Otoo | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| Lt Colonel William Adjei Thompson[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Eastern Region | Col. Kweku Adade Takyi | 1972 – 1973 and 1975 – 1977 | |||
| Lt. Col. George Manyila | 1973 – 1975 | ||||
| Commander G. E. Osei | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| Lt. Colonel Obed Kwabena Abrefa[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Greater Accra Regional Commissioner | Lt. Col. William Adjei Thompson | 1975 – 1977 | |||
| Lt. Colonel L. K. Kodjiku | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| Commander G. E. Osei[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Northern Region | Major R. K. Zumah | October 1975 – 1978 | |||
| Lt. Colonel L. K. Kodjiku[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Upper Region | Lt. Col. Michael Ofori-Akuamoah | 1975 – 1978 | |||
| Lt. Colonel Samuel Gyabaah[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Volta Regional Commissioner | Colonel J. A. Kabore | 1972 – 1975 | |||
| Lt. Col. G. K. Amevor[7][8] | 1975 – 1979 | ||||
| Western Region | Lt. Col. E. J. Dawuni | 1976 – 1977 | |||
| Lt.Commander John A.K. Otoo | 1977 – 1978 | ||||
| J. S. Y. Amenlemah[7] | 1978 – 1979 | ||||
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary to the Cabinet | Nathan Quao | 1972-1973 | |
| Ebenezer Moses Debrah | 1973-1976 | ||
| Frank W. Beecham | 1976-1978 | ||
| Gilbert Boafo Boahene | 1978-1979 |
Palace coup
Following a bloodless palace coup on 5 July 1978, the SMC was reconstituted. General Acheeampng was forced to resign as head of state and placed under house arrest. This government remained in power until its overthrow eleven months later by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on 4 June 1979.
SMC II members (July 1978 to June 1979) | |||||
| Office | Name | Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of state and Chairman | Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo[9] | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of the Defence Staff | Major General Robert E. A. Kotei | 5 July 1978 - 23 July 1978 | |||
| Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu[9] | July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | ||||
| Chief of Army Staff | Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington[9] | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of Naval Staff | Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume[9] | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Chief of Air Staff | Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye[9] | 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | |||
| Border Guards Commander | Major General E. K. Utuka | 5 July 1978 - 1978 | |||
| Major General K. Osei Boateng[9][10] | 1978 - 4 June 1979 | ||||
| Inspector General of Police | Ernest Ako[9] | July 1978 | |||
| B. S. K. Kwakye | 17 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 | ||||
| Preceded by National Redemption Council (1972-1975) |
Governments of Ghana (Military Regime) 1975–1979 |
Succeeded by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (1979) |
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| Military |
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Monday 4 June 1979
References
- "MEMBERSHIP OF SMC AND NRC". Wikileaks. WikiLeaks. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- "Commissioners of State as at Sept. 1, 1978". Ghana News. Washington DC: Embassy of Ghana. 7 (8): 13. September 1978. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- Nkrumah, I. K. (editor) (2 June 1976). "Ahlijah Calls on Otumfuo". Newspaper (7968). Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 31 March 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Nkrumah, I. K. (editor) (2 June 1976). "Jackson inspects new court house". Newspaper (7968). Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 31 March 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Obed Asamoah (20 October 2014). The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013): The Experience of a Non-Conformist. AuthorHouseUK. p. 243. ISBN 978-1496985620. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- "Regional Commissioners as at Sept. 1, 1978". Ghana News. Washington DC: Embassy of Ghana. 7 (8): 13. September 1978. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- Nkrumah, I. K. (editor) (2 June 1976). "You are welcome!". Newspaper (7968). Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 31 March 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "The Re-constituted Supreme Military Council". Ghana News. Washington DC: Embassy of Ghana. 7 (8): 13. September 1978. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- Tagoe, George (6 May 2004). Genesis Four. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781553955696. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
Sources
- Some of the information here was originally on the German Wikipedia.
External sources
- Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff
- Past Army Commanders / Chiefs of Army Staff
- Past Chiefs of Naval Staff 1959 - 2000
- Past Chiefs of Air Staff
| Preceded by National Redemption Council (1972–1975) |
Government of Ghana (Military Regime) October 1975 – June 1979 |
Succeeded by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (1979) |
| Civilian | |
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| Military |
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