National Redemption Council

The National Redemption Council (NRC) was the ruling Ghana military government from 13 January 1972 to 9 October 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I. K. Acheampong, who was thus also the head of state of Ghana.

Duration of rule

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

On 9 October 1975, the NRC was replaced by the Supreme Military Council.[2] Its composition consisted of 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. Some officers were promoted, some changed portfolios and many others were dropped.[3]

Members of the NRC

The NRC was made up of Achemapong, the various service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, four 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[4]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Chief of the Defence Staff	Major General N. Y. A. Ashley-Larsen[4]	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Army Staff	Colonel Emmanuel Alexander Erskine[4]	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Naval Staff	Commodore P.F. Quaye[4]	13 January 1972 - ?
Chief of Air Staff	Air Commodore Charles Beausoliel[4]	13 January 1972 - ?
Inspector General of Police	J. H. Cobbina[4]	13 January 1972 - September 1974
Member	Lt. Colonel C.D. Benni (then Major)[4]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Kwame R.M. Baah (then Major)[4]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey (then Major)[4]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Lt. Colonel Kwame B. Agbo (then Major)[4]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Member	Major General Roger J A Felli[4]	13 January 1972 - ?
Member	Commander Boham[5]	13 January 1972 - ?
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	1972
	Major Kwame Baah	1972 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Inspector General of Police	J. H. Cobbina[6]	13 January 1972 - September 1974
	Ernest Ako	September 1974 - October 1975
Commissioner for Defence	Colonel Kutu Acheampong[6]	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice	Edward Nathaniel Moore	13 January 1972 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs	Colonel Kutu Acheampong[6]	13 January 1972 - ?
	Major Roger J. A. Felli[7]	c. 1974
	Amon Nikoi (Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning)	? – ?
Commissioner for Local Government	Major General Nathan Aferi	13 January 1972 - October 1975
Commissioner for Agriculture[8]	Major-General Daniel Addo[6]	1972 – 1973
	Colonel Frank Bernasko[9]	1973 – 1975
	Lt. Col Paul Nkegbe	1975
Commissioner for Health	Colonel J. C. Adjeitey[6]	? - ?
	Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey	? - 1975
Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives	Major Kwame Asante	1972 - ?
	Major Kwame Agbo	? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources	Major General D. C. K. Amenu	? - October 1975
Commissioner for Industry	Major Kwame B. Agbo	1972 - ?
	Lt. Col. George Minyila	? - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Works and Housing	Major Roger Felli	1972
	Colonel Victor Coker-Appiah	1972 - 1974
	Colonel R. E. A. Kotei[10]	? - October 1975
Commissioner for Trade and Tourism	Major Roger Felli	1972 - ?
	Lt. Colonel D. A. Iddisah[7]	1974 - October 1975
Commissioner for Transport and Communications	Lt. Col. Anthony Selormey	1972 - 1973
	Colonel Peter Kwame Agyekum	1974-October 1975
Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports	Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe[6][11]	?
	Colonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante (Commissioner for Education, Youth and Culture)	? - 1975
Commissioner for Information	Colonel Kutu Acheampong	?
	Colonel C. R. Tachie-Menson[10]	1974 - 9 October 1975
Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs	Colonel Frank Bernasko	?
	Commander J. A. Kyeremeh	? - October 1975
Commissioner for NRC Affairs	E. K. Buckman	? - October 1975

List of regional commissioners in NRC government
Office	Name	Dates
Ashanti Regional Commissioner	Lt. Colonel E. A. Baidoo[5]	1972 - ?
	Commander Joy K. Amedume	1974 - 9 October 1975
Brong Ahafo Region	Commander J. A. Kyeremeh[5]	1972
	Lt. Col. Victor Coker Appiah	1972 - 30 April 1975
	Lt. Col. O. K. Abrefa	? - October 1975
Central Region	Colonel Frank Bernasko[5]	1972 - 1973
	Commander Joy Amedume	1973 - 1974
	Lt. Col. E. A. Baidoo	1974 - October 1975
Eastern Region	Colonel Emmanuel Obeng Nyante[5]	1972 - ?
	Lt. Col. George Minyila	1973 - 1975
	Lt. Col. Kweku Adade Takyi	1975 - October 1975
Greater Accra Regional Commissioner	Colonel Adjetey[5]	1972
	Lt. Colonel P. K. D. Habadah[12]	1972 - October 1975
Northern Region	Lt. Colonel Iddisa	1972 - ?
	Col. P. K. Agyekum	1973 - 1974
	Lt. Col. Festus F. Addae	1974 - October 1975
Upper Region	Lt. Colonel Minyila[5]	1972 - ?
	Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey	?
	Major Michael Ofori-Akuamoah	? - October 1975
Volta Regional Commissioner	Major P. K. D. Habadah[5]	1972 - ?
	Col. J. A. Kabore	? - October 1975
Western Region	Colonel Agyekum[5]	1972 - ?
	Commander J. A. Kyeremeh[13]	1974
	Col. W. C. O. Acquaye-Nortey	? - October 1975

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. November 1994. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
2. "Ghana". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
3. "MEMBERSHIP OF SMC AND NRC". Wikileaks.com. WikiLeaks. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
4. Members of the National Redemption Council. Public Relations Department, Ghana. OCLC 404100555.
5. Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thru' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 171. ISBN 9988809786.
6. Paxton, J. (14 Sep 1972). The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73. Macmillan. p. 309. ISBN 978-0333124062. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
7. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 184. ISBN 9988809786.
8. "Former Heads of MoFA". Official website. Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
9. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
10. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
11. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thru' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 182. ISBN 9988809786.
12. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Ghana. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 185. ISBN 9988809786.
13. Jubilee Ghana - 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 184. ISBN 9988809786.

Sources and external links

• Members of NRC on WorldStatesMan.org