George Boakye

Infobox Military Person
name= George Yaw Boakye
lived=December 25 1937 - June 26 1979


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placeofbirth=Ejisu, Ashanti Region, Ghana
placeofdeath=Teshie Military Range, Ghana
allegiance=flag|Ghana
branch=air force|Ghana
serviceyears=1959 – 1979
rank=Air Vice-Marshal
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commands=
battles=
awards=
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Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) George Yaw Boakye (December 25 1937 - June 26 1979) was an airman and politician. He is a former Commander of the Ghana Air Force (November 1976 - June 1979) and member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in Ghana. He became a member of the SMC in November 1976 by virtue of his position as a Service Commander of the Ghana Air Force. He was executed by firing squad on June 26, 1979.

Early life and education

AVM George Yaw Boakye was born on the 25 December 1937 at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to the late Albert Yaw Boakye and Madam Sarah Akua Ampofowaa of Aduman in the Kwabere District. He started his primary education at the St. Joseph's school in Kumasi in 1943. He entered the Opoku Ware Secondary School in 1953 and graduated in 1957 with a West African School Certificate. He then entered the Kumasi College of Science and Technology (now known as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology ) with the intention of pursuing a career in Mechanical Engineering. However, the authorities of the school felt he was one of the right materials for the newly established Faculty of Architecture and steered his path toward a career in Architecture. This career change did not go down well with him and this made him leave the university altogether in 1958. From his cherished dream of becoming a Mechanical Engineer, he soon became one of the first intakes of the Ghana Air Force Officer Corps in July 1959. He was married to Mrs Beatrice Afua Boakye an educationist and had 5 children.

Military career

He had his basic Military Training at Teshie Military Academy and attended the Flying Training School in Takoradi. He was commissioned on January 20, 1961 by the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. From 1961-1963, he was attached to the No. 2 Squadron in Takoradi flying Caribous. He later transferred to the Accra Air Force station as a VIP Pilot flying Herons from 1963-1965. He attended the Junior Command and Staff School in the United Kingdom from January 1966 - March 1966. He was the Squadron of the Accra Air Force Station from July 1965 - July 1967. He also attended the Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, Hampshire, UK from December 1967 to December 1968. Between December 1969 and August 1970, he was the squadron leader, Air Force Plans, at the Air Force HQ in Accra, Ghana. In August 1970, he became the Senior Air Force Staff Officer at the Air Force HQ, a post he held until July 1971. He was the Air Staff Officer and Chief Staff Officer from July 1971 - January 1974. He attended the National Defence College, New Delhi, India from January, 1974 to November 1974. In January 1975, he became the Commandant of the Military Academy and Training Schools in Ghana. AVM George Yaw Boakye became the Commander of the Ghana Air Force in November 1976. By virtue of his position as Air Force Commander, he became a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC). A position he held until his execution by firing squad on the morning of June 26, 1979.

Politics

Execution

On the morning of June 26, 1979, AVM George Yaw Boakye was tied to the stakes and killed by firing squad at the Teshie Military Range alongside with 5 others (Akuffo, Kotei, Amedume, Felli and Afrifa).

Reburial

The widows of the executed Generals and Colonel petitioned to President Kuffuor who ordered for the exhumation of their remains.On 27 December 2001 AVM Boakye was finally given a fitting burial and laid to rest at the Osu Military cemetery with Major General Kotei.

References