Supreme Military Council (Ghana)

The Supreme Military Council (SMC) was the ruling government of Ghana from October 9, 1975 to June 4, 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.

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.

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 A. Okai Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo	9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978
Chief of Army Staff	Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo Major General Robert E. A. Kotei	9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978
Chief of Naval Staff	Rear Admiral C.K. Dzang Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume	9 October 1975 - June 1977 June 1977 - July 1978
Chief of Air Staff	Brigadier Charles Beausoliel Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye	9 October 1975 - 11 November 1976 12 November 1976 - 5 July 1978
Border Guards Commander	Major General E. K. Utuka
Inspector General of Police	Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye	9 October 1975 - July 1978 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.

Office	Name	Dates
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs	Major Roger Felli	1975 - ?
Commissioner for Internal Affairs Inspector General of Police	Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye	9 October 1975 - July 1978 July 1978 – June 1979
Commissioner for Defence	Colonel Kutu Acheampong	9 October 1975 - July 1978
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice	Edward Nathaniel Moore	9 October 1975 - ?
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs	Colonel Kutu Acheampong Robert K.A. Gardiner J. L. S. Abbey	9 October 1975 - ? ? – ? ? – ?
Commissioner for Local Government	Lt. Col. B. K. Ahlijah Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson C. K. Tedam	9 October 1975 - ? ? – ? ? – ?
Commissioner for Agriculture[1]	Lt. Col. Paul K. Nkegbe Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington Colonel Samuel Akwagiram	1977 – 1979 1979 1979
Commissioner for Health	Colonel J. C. Adjeitey Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives	Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources	Group Captain T. T. Kutin Brigadier K. Osei-Boateng Lt. Col. Abdulai Ibrahim
Commissioner for Industry	Colonel George Minyila Colonel B. K. Ahlijah
Commissioner for Works and Housing	Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson Major Edward Yirimambo
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism	Colonel K. E. Quarshie
Commissioner for Transport and Communications	Colonel David A. Iddisah Group Captain T. T. Kutin Eric R.K. Dwemoh
Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports	Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe
Commissioner for Education, Youth and Sports	Ellis Owusu-Fordwor
Commissioner for Information	Major General Robert E. A. Kotei Colonel Parker H.S. Yarney
Commissioner for Sports	Colonel Kutu Acheampong
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs	Captain J. A. Kyeremeh
Commissioner for SMC Affairs	E. K. Buckman
Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of State	Joe Emmanuel Appiah
Commissioner for Consumer Affairs	Kofi Badu
Commissioner for Fuel and Power	Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim
Ashanti Region	Major R. Kujiku Commander Godwin E. Osei
Brong Ahafo Region	Wing Commander O. K. Abrefa
Central Region	Major Dawuni
Eastern Region	Commander G. E. Osei
Greater Accra Region	Major R. Kujiku
Northern Region	Lieutenant-Colonel R. Zumah
Upper Region	Lieutenant-Colonel M. Ofori-Akuamoah
Volta Region	Lieutenant-Colonel G. K. Amevor
Western Region	Lieutenant-Commander John A.K. Otoo

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.

Office	Name	Dates
Head of state and Chairman	Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo	5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of the Defence Staff	Major General Robert E. A. Kotei Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu	5 July 1978 - 23 July 1978 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Army Staff	Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington	5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Naval Staff	Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume	5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Chief of Air Staff	Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye	5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
Border Guards Commander	Major General E. K. Utuka Major General K. Osei Boateng[2]	5 July 1978 - ? ? - 4 June 1979
Inspector General of Police	Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye	July 1978 17 July 1978 - 4 June 1979

Monday 4th June 1979

References

1. "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
2. Tagoe, George (6 May 2004). Genesis Four. Trafford Publishing. Retrieved 9 September 2012.

Sources

• Some of the information here was originally on the German Wikipedia.

External sources

• Ghana-pedia webpage - Supreme Military Council (I)
• 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