Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (Ghana)

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

Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Overview
Established	4 June 1979 (1979-06-04)
Dissolved	24 September 1979 (1979-09-24)
State	Ghana
Leader	Chairman (Jerry Rawlings)
Headquarters	Accra

4 June military coup

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
Position	Name	Dates	Notes
Head of state of Ghana and Chairman	Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Official Spokesman	Captain Kojo Boakye-Djan[5]	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Major Mensah-Poku	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Major Mensah Gbedemah	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Lieutenant Commander H. C. Apaloo	Jun 1979 – ?[4]	Died following traffic accident
Member	Captain Kwabena Baah Achamfuor[6]	19 Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Warrant Officer (II) Harry K. Obeng	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Staff Seargent Alex Adjei	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Corporal Owusu Boateng	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Leading Aircraftman John N. Gatsiko[7]	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Lance Corporal Peter Tasiri[7]	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Lance Corporal Ansah Atiemo	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Lance Corporal Sarkodee-Addo	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Corporal Sheikh Tetteh	Jun 1979 – 24 Sep 1979
Member	Private Owusu Adu	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.^[4]

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
Portfolio	Commissioner	Time frame	Notes
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs	Gloria Amon Nikoi[8]	1979
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice	A. N. E. Amissah[9]	26 June 1979– ?
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning	Dr. J. L. S. Abbey[8]	1979
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism
Commissioner for Interior and Inspector General of Police	C. O. Lamptey	1979 – 26 June 1979
	Ben Forjoe[9]	26 June 1979 – ?
Commissioner for Lands, Natural Resources	George Benneh[8]	1979
Commissioner for Fuel and Power
Commissioner for Industries	Anthony Woode[8]	1979
Commissioner for Labour and Social Welfare
Commissioner for Transport and Communications	George Harlley[8]	1979
Commissioner for Works and Housing
Commissioner for Agriculture	Abeifaa Karbo[8][10]	June 1979 – September 1979
Commissioner for Information	Kwame Afreh[11]	1979
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs
Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives	Nii Anyetei Kwakwranyra	1979 – 26 June 1979
	Kofi Badu[8][9]	26 June 1979 –?
Commissioner for Local Government & Commissioner for Sports	Kofi Badu	1979 – 26 June 1979
	Nii Anyetei Kwakwranyra[9][8]	26 June 1979 – ?
Commissioner for Education and Culture	Emmanuel Evans-Anfom[8]	1979
Commissioner for Health
Regional Commissioners
Ashanti Regional Commissioner	Colonel R. K. Zumah	1979
Brong Ahafo Region	Lieutenant Commander I. K. Awuku	1979
Central Region	Kobena Gyapea Erbynn[8]	1979
Eastern Region	S. H. Annancy[8]	1979
Greater Accra Regional Commissioner	E. R. K. Dwemoh[8]	1979
Northern Region	Lieutenant Colonel L. K. Kodjiku	1979
Upper Region	Major M. Gyabaah	1979
Volta Regional Commissioner	Lieutenant Colonel G.K. Amevor	1979
Western Region	J. S. Amenlema[8]	1979

See also

• History of Ghana (1966–79)

References

1. "Eight Top Officers Executed". Ghana News. 8 (7). Washington: Embassy of Ghana: 6. July 1979. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
2. Kwaku Sakyi-Addo (2007-03-01). "The reality of Ghana's independence". Part Two of Ghana, Winds Of Change was broadcast on BBC World Service on Monday 5 March at 0930 UTC. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
3. "Historical Development of the Courts after Independence". Official Website. Judicial Service of Ghana. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
4. "The Security Services" (PDF). Report of the National Reconciliation Commission. Ghana government. October 2004. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
5. Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 218. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
6. "Ex-AFRC man sets records straight". Modern Ghana. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
7. "Membership of the AFRC". Ghana News. 8 (7). Washington: Embassy of Ghana: 6. July 1979. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
8. "New Portfolios For Commissioners". Ghana News. 8 (7). Washington: Embassy of Ghana: 10. July 1979. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
9. Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 219. ISBN 9988-8097-8-6.
10. "State Burial for Naa Abeifaa Karbo". Modern Ghana. 18 January 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
11. "New Portfolios For Commissioners". Ghana News. 8 (7). Washington: Embassy of Ghana: 9. July 1979. Retrieved 3 February 2020.

Preceded by Supreme Military Council (1975–1978)	Government of Ghana (Military Regime) Jun 1979 – Sept 1979	Succeeded by Limann government (1979–1981)