National Redemption Council

Ghana

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The National Redemption Council (NRC) was the ruling Ghana military government in from January 13, 1972 to October 9, 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.

Duration of rule

The NRC came into power through a coup d'état led by Colonel Acheampong. This was a bloodless coup which overthrew the democratically elected Progress Party (PP) government of Dr. K.A. Busia. It took place while Dr. Busia was away in the United Kingdom for medical reasons. The constitution was suspended and all political parties banned. One of the main grievances for the coup was the currency devaluations undertaken under the PP regime.^[1]

On October 9 1975, the NRC was replaced by the Supreme Military Council.^[2] Its composition consisted of Colonel Acheampong, the chairman, who was also promoted straight from Colonel to General. The others included the military hierarchy consisting of Lt. Gen. Akuffo the Chief of Defence Staff, and the army, navy, air force and Border Guards commanders respectively.

Members of the NRC

The NRC was made up of the Head of state, Colonel Achemapong, the various service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, 4 other army officers of the rank of Major and a civilian who was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

List of members
Office	Name	Dates
Head of state and Chairman	Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Chief of the Defence Staff	Major General N. Y. A. Ashley-Larsen	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Army Staff	Colonel Emmanuel Alexander Erskine	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Naval Staff	Commodore P.F. Quaye	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Air Staff	Air Commodore Charles Beausoliel	13 January 1972 - ?
Inspector General of Police	J. H. Cobbina	13 January 1972 - ?
Member	Lt. Colonel C.D. Benni (then Major)	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Kwame R.M. Baah (then Major)	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey (then Major)	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Kwame B. Agbo (then Major)	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice Member	Edward Nathaniel Moore	13 January 1972 - ?

List of commissioners in NRC government
Office	Name	Dates
Commissioner for Foreign Affairs	Major General Nathan Apea Aferi Major Kwame Baah	1972 1972 - 1975
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Inspector General of Police	J. H. Cobbina Ernest Ako	13 January 1972 - September 1974 September 1974 - October 1975
Commissioner for Defence	Colonel Kutu Acheampong	13 January 1972 - ?
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice	Edward Nathaniel Moore	13 January 1972 - ?
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs	Colonel Kutu Acheampong Amon Nikoi	13 January 1972 - ?
Commissioner for Local Government	Major General Nathan Aferi	13 January 1972 - ?
Commissioner for Agriculture	Major-General Daniel Addo Colonel Frank Bernasko
Commissioner for Health	Colonel J. C. Adjeitey Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives	Major Kwame Asante
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources	Major General D. C. K. Amenu
Commissioner for Industry	Major Kwame B. Agbo
Commissioner for Works and Housing	Major Roger Felli Colonel Victor Coker-Appiah	1972 1972 - ?
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism	Major Roger Felli	1972 - ?
Commissioner for Transport and Communications	Lt. Col. Anthony Selormey
Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports	Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe Colonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante
Commissioner for Information	Colonel Kutu Acheampong Colonel C. R. Tachie-Menson
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs	Colonel Frank Bernasko

Some programmes of the NRC

• The NRC introduced the Ghana National Pledge.
• Operation Feed Yourself - an Agricultural campaign for national self sufficiency in food supplies.
• Operation Keep Right - The changeover from driving on the left to the right which occurred on August 4, 1974.

Preceded by Busia government (1969-1972)

Government of Ghana (Military Regime) 1972 – 1975

Succeeded by Supreme Military Council (1975-1978)

Notes

1. ^ "Ghana - The National Redemption Council Years, 1972-79". Library of Congress Studies Country Profile. Federal Research Division, Library of Congressm, USA. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+gh0028). Retrieved 2007-03-20. 
2. ^ "Ghana". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-76830. Retrieved 2007-03-20. 

Sources and external links

• Members of NRC on WorldStatesMan.org