National Redemption Council

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.

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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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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 With immediate effect, the Constitution is withdrawn, Parliament is dissolved, the Progress Party and all political parties are banned.[1]

9 October 1975

On 9 October 1975, the NRC was replaced by the Supreme Military Council.[5] 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.[6] The Commanders of the First and Second Infantry Brigades of the Ghana Army were also included.[7] 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.[3]

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.[8] 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.[9] It also repudiated some of the national debt in February 1972.[10] 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. 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.[11]

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 Sargent 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, Sargent W. Agyare, Private K. Oduro and Sargent G. Nimako.[12] In August 1973, Kojo Botsio, a minister in the Nkrumah CPP government together with others was arrested for planning to overthrow the government.[10] 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.[13]

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

Office Name Dates
Head of state and ChairmanColonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong[1]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Chief of the Defence StaffMajor General N. Y. A. Ashley-Larsen[1]13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Army StaffColonel Emmanuel Alexander Erskine[1]13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Naval StaffCommodore P.F. Quaye[1]13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Air StaffAir Commodore Charles Beausoliel[1]13 January 1972 - ?
Inspector General of PoliceJ. H. Cobbina[1]13 January 1972 - September 1974
MemberLt. Colonel C.D. Benni[14]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
MemberLt. Colonel Kwame R.M. Baah (then Major)[1]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
MemberLt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey (then Major)[1]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
MemberLt. Colonel K. B. Agbo (then Major)[1]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
MemberMajor General Roger J A Felli[1]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
MemberCommander Boham[14]13 January 1972 - ?
MemberLt. Colonel Barnor[15]1972 - ?
Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice
Member		Edward Nathaniel Moore[15]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975

List of commissioners in NRC government

Office Name Dates
Commissioner for Foreign AffairsMajor General Nathan Apea Aferi1972
Major Kwame Baah1972 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and
Inspector General of Police		J. H. Cobbina[16]13 January 1972 - September 1974
Ernest AkoSeptember 1974 - October 1975
Commissioner for DefenceColonel Kutu Acheampong[16]13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice		Edward Nathaniel Moore13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Finance and Economic AffairsColonel Kutu Acheampong[16]13 January 1972 - ?
Major Roger J. A. Felli[17]c. 1974
Amon Nikoi
(Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning)		 ? – 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Local GovernmentColonel Victor Coker-Appiah[18]c. 1972
Major General Nathan Aferi13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Agriculture[19]Major-General Daniel Addo[16]1972 – 1973
Colonel Frank Bernasko[20]1973 – 1975
Lt. Col Paul Nkegbe1975
Commissioner for HealthColonel J. C. Adjeitey[16] ? - ?
Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey[21]
? - 1975
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operativesMajor Kwame Asante[22]1972 - ?
Major K. B. Agbo ? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral ResourcesMajor Kwame Baah[18]c. 1972
Major General D. C. K. Amenu ? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for IndustryMajor K. B. Agbo1972 - ?
Lt. Col. George Minyila ? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Works and HousingMajor Roger Felli1972
Colonel Victor Coker-Appiah1972 - 1974
Colonel R. E. A. Kotei[23] ? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Trade and TourismMajor Roger Felli1972 - ?
Lt. Colonel D. A. Iddisah[17]1974 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Transport and CommunicationsLt. Col. Anthony Selormey[24]1972 - 1973
Colonel Peter Kwame Agyekum1974 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Education, Culture and SportsLieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe[16][25]
c. 1973
Colonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante
(Commissioner for Education, Youth and Culture)		 ? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for InformationColonel Kutu Acheampong ?
Colonel C. R. Tachie-Menson[23]1974 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Cocoa AffairsColonel Frank Bernasko ?
Commander J. A. Kyeremeh ? - October 1975
Commissioner for NRC AffairsE. K. Buckman ? - October 1975

List of regional commissioners in NRC government

Office Name Dates
Ashanti Regional CommissionerLt. Colonel E. A. Baidoo[14]1972 - ?
Commander Joy K. Amedume[26]1974 - 9 October 1975
Brong Ahafo RegionCommander J. A. Kyeremeh[14]1972
Lt. Col. Victor Coker Appiah1972 - 30 April 1975
Lt. Col. O. K. Abrefa ? - October 1975
Central RegionColonel Frank Bernasko[14]1972 - 1973
Commander Joy Amedume1973 - 1974
Lt. Col. E. A. Baidoo1974 - 9 October 1975
Eastern RegionColonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante[14]1972 - ?
Lt. Col. George Minyila1973 - 1975
Lt. Col. Kweku Adade Takyi1975 - October 1975
Greater Accra Regional CommissionerCol. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey[15]1972
Colonel Adjetey[14]1972
Lt. Colonel Philip K. D. Habadah[27]1972 - 9 October 1975
Northern RegionLt. Colonel D. A. Iddisah1972 - ?
Col. P. K. Agyekum1973 - 1974
Lt. Col. Festus F. Addae1974 - 9 October 1975
Upper RegionLt. Colonel George Minyila[14]1972 - ?
Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey ?
Major Michael Ofori-Akuamoah ? - October 1975
Volta Regional CommissionerMajor Philip K. D. Habadah[14]1972 - ?
Col. J. A. Kabore ? - 9 October 1975
Western RegionColonel P. A. Agyekum[14]1972 - ?
Commander J. A. Kyeremeh[28]1974
Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey ? - 9 October 1975
Office Name Dates Notes
Secretary to the CabinetNathan Quao1972-1973
Ebenezer Moses Debrah1973-1976
Frank W. Beecham1976 - 1978

Some programmes of the NRC
  • The NRC introduced the Ghana National Pledge.
  • Operation Feed Yourself - an Agricultural campaign for national self-sufficiency in food supplies.
  • Operation Keep Right - The changeover from driving on the left to the right which occurred on August 4, 1974.

Notes
  1. Members of the National Redemption Council. Public Relations Department, Ghana. 2006. ISBN 9789988809782. OCLC 404100555.
  2. "Ghana - The National Redemption Council Years, 1972-79". Library of Congress Studies Country Profile. Federal Research Division, Library of Congressm, USA. November 1994. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  3. Singh, Naunihal (26 August 2014). Seizing power : the strategic logic of military coups. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 89 & 139. ISBN 978-1421413365.
  4. Bennet, Valerie Plave (1975). "Epilogue:Malcontents in Uniform". In Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin (eds.). Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana, 1966–1972. London: Frank Cass and Company Limited. p. 305. ISBN 978-0714630496.
  5. "Ghana". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  6. "MEMBERSHIP OF SMC AND NRC". Wikileaks.com. WikiLeaks. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  7. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 195. ISBN 9988809786.
  8. Owusu-Ansah, David (2005). Historical dictionary of Ghana (3rd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-8108-5328-7.
  9. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 172. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
  10. Owusu-Ansah, David (2005). "Chronology". Historical dictionary of Ghana (3rd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. pp. lv–lvi. ISBN 978-0-8108-5328-7.
  11. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 193. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
  12. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 177. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
  13. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 183. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
  14. Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thru' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 171. ISBN 9988809786.
  15. Austin, Dennis; Luckham, Robin, eds. (1975). Politicians and soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (1st ed.). London: Cass. p. 304. ISBN 978-0714630496.
  16. Paxton, J. (14 Sep 1972). The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73. Macmillan. p. 309. ISBN 978-0333124062. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 184. ISBN 9988809786.
  18. "Know your commissioners". Public Relations Dept., Accra. 1972. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  20. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
  21. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
  22. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 174. ISBN 9988809786.
  23. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
  24. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 188. ISBN 9988809786.
  25. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thru' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 182. ISBN 9988809786.
  26. Jubilee Ghana : a 50-year news journey thro' graphic. Accra: Graphic. 2006. p. 187. ISBN 9988809786.
  27. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Ghana. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
  28. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 184. ISBN 9988809786.
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