Ignatius Kutu Acheampong

Infobox_President | name=Ignatius Kutu Acheampong


imagesize =
caption = General I.K. Acheampong
order =6th Head of state of Ghana
term_start =January 13, 1972
term_end =July 5, 1978
deputy =None - (1972-Oct 1975)
Lt. Gen. F.W.K. Akuffo(1975-1978)
predecessor =Edward Akufo-Addo
successor =Lt. Gen. F.W.K. Akuffo
birth_date =birth date|1931|9|23|mf=y
birth_place =flagicon|GHA Ghana
death_date =death date and age |1979|6|16|1931|9|23
death_place =Accra, Ghana
party =military - NRC
military - SMC
spouse =Mrs. Faustina Acheampong
profession =Soldier
religion =Christian


footnotes =Head of State of a military government|

General (then Colonel) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (September 23 1931 – June 16 1979) was a former military head of state of Ghana. He ruled from 13 January, 1972 to July 5, 1978, when he was deposed in a palace coup. He was later executed by firing squad.

Politics

Acheampong led a coup d'état to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Progress Party and its leader Dr. Kofi Busia on 13 January 1972. [cite web |url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/Vol%204%20Chpt%201%20com.sec.rep.pdf |title=The Security Services |accessdate=2007-04-30 |month=October | year=2004 |format=pdf |work=Report of the National Reconciliation Commission Volume 4 Chapter 1 |publisher=Ghana government] He became Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC), which was later transformed into the Supreme Military Council on October 9, 1975, with Colonel Acheampong (promoted to General) as its chairman.

Notable historical changes and events introduced or implemented in Ghana during the period under Acheampong include: the change from the imperial to the metric system of measurement, change from driving on the left to right-hand drive in "Operation Keep Right", "Operation Feed Yourself" (a programme aimed at developing self-reliance in agriculture), "National Reconstruction" (aimed at promoting employment and skill for workers), face-lift projects in cities, and the reconstruction/upgrading of stadia to meet international standards.

There were, however, widespread accusations of both the encouragement and endorsement of corruption in the country under his rule.

Union Government and Overthrow

Acheampong sought to perpetuate the military in government by introducing a model called "Union Government" or "Unigov" for short.cite news |url=http://www.ghana.co.uk/history/history/ghana_1972_1979.htm |title= The National Redemption Council Years, 1972-79 |accessdate=2007-04-30 |work=Ghana news website |publisher=Ghana.co.uk] This became a very contentious national issue which was vehemently opposed by many. A referendum held on 30 March, 1978 to accept or reject this concept was widely believed to be rigged, though the official results were 60.11% for and 39.89% against. [cite web |url=http://africanelections.tripod.com/gh.html#1969_National_Assembly_Election |title=Elections in Ghana |accessdate=2007-04-30 |work=African elections database |publisher=Albert C. Nunley] The electoral commissioner at the time, Justice Isaac Kobina Abban (who later became Chief Justice), went into hiding from the government for fear of his life after coming under pressure to manipulate results. [cite web|url=http://www.ghana50.gov.gh/history/index.php?op=postIndependence5 |title= History of Ghana - Post Independence Ghana |accessdate=2007-04-30 |work=50th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Ghana |publisher=Ghana government |quote=In furtherance of the UNIGOV policy, a referendum was held on 30 March 1978 to ascertain the wishes of Ghanaians on the issue. Halfway through the referendum, the Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Justice Isaac Kobina Abban, a judge of the High Court, had to give up his job and fled into hiding, apparently to save his life.]

Acheampong was deposed in a palace coup on 5 July, 1978 and succeeded by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Fred Akuffo. He remained under virtual house arrest at Trabuom in the Ashanti Region until the advent of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).cite web |url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/VOL%202%20Part%201%20CHAPTER%206%20Review%20of%20Petitions.pdf |title=Review of Petitions E. 4th June, 1979 – 23rd September 1979 (AFRC REGIME) |accessdate=2007-04-30 |format=pdf |datre=October 2004 |pages=page176 |work= Report of the National Reconciliation Commission Volume 2 Part 1 Chapter 6|publisher=Ghana government]

Execution

Acheampong, together with two other former Heads of State (Gen. Afrifa and Gen. Akuffo) and five other senior military officers (Amedume, Boakye, Felli, Kotei and Utuka), were executed by firing squad in June 1979, after the June 4 revolution that brought Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings and the AFRC to power.

Family

Acheampong was married to Mrs. Faustina Acheampong. His grandson is American football player Charlie Peprah. A native of Plano, Texas, Peprah played four seasons at the University of Alabama and was picked in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He currently plays for the Green Bay Packers.

References

ee also

*National Redemption Council
*Supreme Military Council
*Corruption in Ghana
*List of Ghana Heads of state by age

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Persondata
NAME=Acheamphong, Ignatius Kutu
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Soldier and former military Head of state of Ghana
DATE OF BIRTH=September 23, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ghana
DATE OF DEATH=June 16, 1979
PLACE OF DEATH=Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana