National Liberation Council

Ghana

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The National Liberation Council (NLC) was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October 1, 1969.

This was the first coup in Ghana and it was a bloody one. The CIA appears to have had at least a year's notice of the coup d'état.^[1] Some sources believe that they may even have helped in some way.^[2] The was very heavy fighting and some loss of life as well. The NLC immediately banned all political parties and suspended the constitution. They eventually handed over power to the Progress Party led by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia.

Members

The membership consisted of four soldiers and four police officers.^[3]

• Lt. Gen. J. A. Ankrah - Chairman of the NLC and Head of State (February 24, 1966 – April 3, 1969)
• Mr. J.W.K. Harlley (Inspector General of Police) - Vice Chairman of the NLC
• Brigadier Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa Chairman of the NLC and Head of State (April 3, 1969 – October 1, 1969)
• Lt. Gen. Emmanuel K. Kotoka (February 24, 1966 – April 17, 1967)
• Mr. B. A. Yakubu (Deputy Commissioner of Police)
• Major General Albert Kwesi Ocran
• Mr. Anthony K. Deku (Commissioner of Police, CID)
• Mr. J.E.O. Nunoo (Commissioner of Police, Administration)

Ministers

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
Minister for Foreign Affairs	Joseph Arthur Ankrah John Willie Kofi Harlley	1966 – 1967 1967 – 1968
Minister for Defence	Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Kotoka Lt. Gen. J. A. Ankrah Maj. Gen. Albert Ocran	1966 – 1967 1967 – 1969 1969
Minister for Interior	John Willie Kofi Harlley	1966 – 1969
Minister for Communications	Matthew Poku	Feb 1968 – Apr 1969
Minister for Social Affairs	Susanna Al-Hassan	1967

References

1. ^ "253. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)/1/". FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES 1964-1968, Volume XXIV Africa. Department of State, USA. 1999. http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/vol_xxiv/y.html. Retrieved 2007-03-19. ""The plotters are keeping us briefed," .... "and the State Department thinks we're more on the inside than the British. While we're not directly involved (I'm told), we and other Western countries (including France) have been helping to set up the situation by ignoring Nkrumah's pleas for economic aid. All in all, it looks good."" 
2. ^ Paul Lee (June 7, 2002). "Documents Expose U.S. Role in Nkrumah Overthrow". SeeingBlack.com. http://www.seeingblack.com/x060702/nkrumah.shtml. Retrieved 2007-03-19. 
3. ^ "The National Liberation Council". Ghana Home Page. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.detail.php?ID=40562&VOLGNR=1. Retrieved 2007-03-20. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Ghana-pedia webpage - Operation Cold Chop: The Fall Of Kwame Nkrumah
• Ghanaweb - Picture of the NLC

Preceded by Nkrumah government (1957-1966) (Convention Peoples' Party)

Government of Ghana 1966 – 1969

Succeeded by Busia government (1966-1969) (Progress Party)