- Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
Infobox_President | name=Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
imagesize =
caption = General I.K. Acheampong
order =6thHead 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|GHAGhana
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 (thenColonel ) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (September 23 1931 –June 16 1979 ) was a former militaryhead of state of Ghana . He ruled from13 January ,1972 toJuly 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 theProgress Party and its leader Dr.Kofi Busia on13 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 theNational Redemption Council (NRC), which was later transformed into the Supreme Military Council onOctober 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 was deposed in a palace coup on
5 July ,1978 and succeeded by theChief of Defence Staff , Lt. GeneralFred Akuffo . He remained under virtual house arrest at Trabuom in theAshanti 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 playerCharlie Peprah . A native ofPlano, Texas , Peprah played four seasons at theUniversity of Alabama and was picked in the fifth round of the 2006NFL Draft by theNew York Giants . He currently plays for theGreen Bay Packers .References
ee also
*
National Redemption Council
*Supreme Military Council
*Corruption in Ghana
*List of Ghana Heads of state by age ###@@@KEYEND@@@###
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
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