Supreme Military Council (Ghana)

The Supreme Military Council (SMC) was the ruling government of Ghana from October 9, 1975 to June 4, 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.

SMC I and II
The period of the SMC can be divided into two eras. These are :
 * Acheampong era - SMC - 1 (October 9, 1975 - July 5, 1978)
 * Akuffo era - SMC 2 - (July 5, 1978 - June 4, 1979)

The SMC was overthrown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on June 4, 1979. This was a bloody coup during which one of the SMC members, the Army Commander Major General Odartey-Wellington was killed.

Members of the Acheampong government
The council consisted of the Head of state and all service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces. The head of the police was also included.

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SMC I members (October 1975 to July 1978)
! width=200 | Office ! width=400 | Name ! width=300 | Dates Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo || 9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978 Major General Robert E. A. Kotei || 9 October 1975 - November 1976 November 1976 - July 1978 Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume || 9 October 1975 - June 1977 June 1977 - July 1978 Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye || 9 October 1975 - 11 November 1976 12 November 1976 - 5 July 1978
 * Head of state and Chairman || General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong || 9 October 1975 - 5 July 1978
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Lieutenant General Lawrence A. Okai
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Lieutenant General Lawrence A. Okai
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Lieutenant General Lawrence A. Okai
 * Chief of Army Staff || Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo
 * Chief of Army Staff || Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo
 * Chief of Naval Staff || Rear Admiral C.K. Dzang
 * Chief of Naval Staff || Rear Admiral C.K. Dzang
 * Chief of Air Staff || Brigadier Charles Beausoliel
 * Chief of Air Staff || Brigadier Charles Beausoliel
 * Border Guards Commander || Major General E. K. Utuka ||
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye || 9 October 1975 - July 1978 July 1978 – June 1979
 * }
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye || 9 October 1975 - July 1978 July 1978 – June 1979
 * }

The various commissioners were designated as members of the National Redemption Council as membership of the SMC was limited to the Head of State, the Inspector General of Police and the various military service commanders.

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List of commissioners (NRC members)
! width=200 | Office ! width=400 | Name ! width=300 | Dates Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye || 9 October 1975 - July 1978 July 1978 – June 1979 Commissioner for Justice|| Edward Nathaniel Moore || 9 October 1975 - ? Robert K. A. Gardiner J. L. S. Abbey || 9 October 1975 - ? October 1975 – May 1978 ? – ? Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson C. K. Tedam || 9 October 1975 - ? ? – ? ? – ? Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington Colonel Samuel Akwagiram ||1977 – 1979 1979 1979 Lt. Colonel Anthony Hugh Selormey Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington || Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya || Brigadier K. Osei-Boateng Lt. Col. Abdulai Ibrahim || Colonel B. K. Ahlijah || Major Edward Yirimambo || Group Captain T. T. Kutin Eric R.K. Dwemoh || Colonel Parker H.S. Yarney ||
 * Commissioner for Foreign Affairs || Major Roger Felli || 1975 - ?
 * Commissioner for Internal Affairs
 * Commissioner for Internal Affairs
 * Commissioner for Internal Affairs
 * Commissioner for Defence || Colonel Kutu Acheampong || 9 October 1975 - July 1978
 * Attorney-General and
 * Attorney-General and
 * Attorney-General and
 * Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs || Colonel Kutu Acheampong
 * Commissioner for Finance and Economic Affairs || Colonel Kutu Acheampong
 * Commissioner for Local Government || Lt. Col. B. K. Ahlijah
 * Commissioner for Local Government || Lt. Col. B. K. Ahlijah
 * Commissioner for Agriculture || Lt. Col. Paul K. Nkegbe
 * Commissioner for Agriculture || Lt. Col. Paul K. Nkegbe
 * Commissioner for Health || Colonel J. C. Adjeitey
 * Commissioner for Health || Colonel J. C. Adjeitey
 * Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives|| Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume
 * Commissioner for Labour, Social Welfare and Co-operatives|| Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume
 * Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources || Group Captain T. T. Kutin
 * Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources || Group Captain T. T. Kutin
 * Commissioner for Industry || Colonel George Minyila
 * Commissioner for Industry || Colonel George Minyila
 * Commissioner for Works and Housing || Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson
 * Commissioner for Works and Housing || Lt. Col. K. A. Jackson
 * Commissioner for Trade and Tourism || Colonel K. E. Quarshie ||
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications || Colonel David A. Iddisah
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications || Colonel David A. Iddisah
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications || Colonel David A. Iddisah
 * Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sports || Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Nkegbe ||
 * Commissioner for Education, Youth and Sports || Ellis Owusu-Fordwor ||
 * Commissioner for Information ||Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Commissioner for Education, Youth and Sports || Ellis Owusu-Fordwor ||
 * Commissioner for Information ||Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Commissioner for Information ||Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Commissioner for Sports || Colonel Kutu Acheampong ||
 * Commissioner for Cocoa Affairs || Captain J. A. Kyeremeh ||
 * Commissioner for SMC Affairs || E. K. Buckman ||
 * Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of State || Joe Emmanuel Appiah ||
 * Commissioner for Consumer Affairs || Kofi Badu ||
 * Commissioner for Fuel and Power || Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim ||
 * colspan=3 bgcolor=ccccff |
 * Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Head of State || Joe Emmanuel Appiah ||
 * Commissioner for Consumer Affairs || Kofi Badu ||
 * Commissioner for Fuel and Power || Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim ||
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 * Commissioner for Fuel and Power || Lieutenant-Colonel Abdulai Ibrahim ||
 * colspan=3 bgcolor=ccccff |
 * colspan=3 bgcolor=ccccff |

Regional Commissioners
Commander Godwin E. Osei || ||
 * Ashanti Region|| Major R. Kujiku
 * Ashanti Region|| Major R. Kujiku
 * Brong Ahafo Region || Wing Commander O. K. Abrefa
 * Brong Ahafo Region || Wing Commander O. K. Abrefa
 * Central Region || Major Dawuni ||
 * Eastern Region || Commander G. E. Osei ||
 * Greater Accra Region || Major R. Kujiku ||
 * Northern Region || Lieutenant-Colonel R. Zumah ||
 * Upper Region || Lieutenant-Colonel M. Ofori-Akuamoah ||
 * Volta Region || Lieutenant-Colonel G. K. Amevor ||
 * Western Region || 	Lieutenant-Commander John A.K. Otoo ||
 * }
 * Upper Region || Lieutenant-Colonel M. Ofori-Akuamoah ||
 * Volta Region || Lieutenant-Colonel G. K. Amevor ||
 * Western Region || 	Lieutenant-Commander John A.K. Otoo ||
 * }
 * Western Region || 	Lieutenant-Commander John A.K. Otoo ||
 * }
 * }
 * }

Palace coup
Following a bloodless palace coup on 5 July 1978, the SMC was reconstituted. General Acheeampng was forced to resign as head of state and placed under house arrest. This government remained in power until its overthrow eleven months later by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council on 4 June 1979.

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SMC II members (July 1978 to June 1979)
! width=200 | Office ! width=400 | Name ! width=300 | Dates Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu || 5 July 1978 - 23 July 1978 July 1978 - 4 June 1979 Benjamin Samuel Kofi Kwakye || July 1978 17 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Head of state and Chairman || Lieutenant General Fred W. K. Akuffo || 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Chief of the Defence Staff || Major General Robert E. A. Kotei
 * Chief of Army Staff ||Major General Neville Odartey-Wellington || 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Chief of Naval Staff || Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume || 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Chief of Air Staff || Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye || 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Border Guards Commander || Major General E. K. Utuka Major General K. Osei Boateng || 5 July 1978 - ? ? - 4 June 1979
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako
 * Chief of Air Staff || Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye || 5 July 1978 - 4 June 1979
 * Border Guards Commander || Major General E. K. Utuka Major General K. Osei Boateng || 5 July 1978 - ? ? - 4 June 1979
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako
 * Inspector General of Police || Ernest Ako
 * }

Monday 4th June 1979

External sources

 * Ghana-pedia webpage - Supreme Military Council (I)
 * Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff
 * Past Army Commanders / Chiefs of Army Staff
 * Past Chiefs of Naval Staff 1959 - 2000
 * Past Chiefs of Air Staff