Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Ghana

The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was the government of Ghana from June 4, 1979 to September 24, 1979. It came to power in a bloody coup that removed the Supreme Military Council, another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979 when Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings and other ranks were arrested. Their trial only served to make them popular till they were eventually released on the morning of June 4 by young officers and noncommissioned officers inspired by Rawlings.

The regime started a 'House cleaning' exercise against corruption. Three former military leaders of Ghana, Lt. Gen. Afrifa, Gen. Acheampong and Lt. Gen. Akuffo were all executed together with five other senior officers deemed to have been corrupt by the special courts set up by the government. Numerous business entrepreneurs were also targeted and unlawfully had their assets confiscated by the AFRC government including J. K. Siaw.

The AFRC allowed already scheduled elections to go ahead and handed over to the duly elected Dr. Hilla Limann of the People's National Party who became the only president of the Third Republic of Ghana.

Membership
The AFRC consisted of 15 members.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
 * colspan=6 bgcolor=ccccff |
 * colspan=6 bgcolor=ccccff |

AFRC Members
! width=250 | Position ! width=200 | Name ! width=250 | Dates ! width=200 | Notes
 * Head of state of Ghana and Chairman || Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Official Spokesman || Captain Kojo osahene Boakye Gyan || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Major Mensah-Poku || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Major Mensah Gbedemah || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lieutenant Commander H. C. Apaloo || Jun 1979 – ? || Died following traffic accident
 * Member || Captain Kwabena Baah Achamfuor || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Warrant Officer (II) Harry K. Obeng || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Staff Seargent Alex Adjei || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Corporal Owusu Boateng || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Leading Aircraftman John N. Gatsiko || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Peter Tasiri || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Ansah Atiemo || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Sarkodee-Addo || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Corporal Sheikh Tetteh || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Private Owusu Adu || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * }
 * Member || Corporal Owusu Boateng || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Leading Aircraftman John N. Gatsiko || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Peter Tasiri || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Ansah Atiemo || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Lance Corporal Sarkodee-Addo || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Corporal Sheikh Tetteh || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Private Owusu Adu || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * }
 * Member || Lance Corporal Sarkodee-Addo || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Corporal Sheikh Tetteh || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * Member || Private Owusu Adu || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * }
 * Member || Private Owusu Adu || Jun 1979 – Sep 1979 ||
 * }
 * }
 * }

Lieutenant Commander HC Apaloo died in a road traffic accident before the end of AFRC rule.
 * Captain Henry Smith – one of the architects of the uprising and described by officers and soldiers in June 1979 as the officer who was responsible for the success of the uprising – declined membership of the AFRC. He was, nevertheless, given the portfolio of "special duties" and was also put in charge of the Foreign Affairs ministry.

Commissioners
Commissioners were in place of Ministers of state and most carried on from the previous government. A number of commissioners had to cover additional ministries during the period of the AFRC.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
 * colspan=6 bgcolor=ccccff |
 * colspan=6 bgcolor=ccccff |

List of commissioners (ministers) of state
! width=250 | Portfolio ! width=200 | Commissioner ! width=250 | Time frame ! width=200 | Notes Commissioner for Trade and Tourism || Dr. J.L.S. Abbey || 1979 || Inspector General of Police || C.O. Lamptey || 1979 || Commissioner for Fuel and Power || George Benneh || 1979 || Commissioner for Works and Housing || George Harlley || 1979 || Commissioner for Health || E. Evans Anfom || 1979 || ! colspan=4 |Regional Commissioners
 * Commissioner for Foreign Affairs || Gloria Amon Nikoi || 1979 ||
 * Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice || A.N.E. Amissah || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning
 * Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice || A.N.E. Amissah || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning
 * Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning
 * Commissioner for Interior and
 * Commissioner for Interior and
 * Commissioner for Lands, Natural Resources
 * Commissioner for Lands, Natural Resources
 * Commissioner for Industries, Labour and Social Welfare || Anthony Woode || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications
 * Commissioner for Transport and Communications
 * Commissioner for Agriculture || Abayifa Karbo || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Information and Cocoa Affairs || Kwame Afreh || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives || Nii Anyetei Kwakrwanyra || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Local Government and Sports || Kofi Badu || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Education and Culture
 * Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives || Nii Anyetei Kwakrwanyra || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Local Government and Sports || Kofi Badu || 1979 ||
 * Commissioner for Education and Culture
 * Commissioner for Education and Culture
 * Commissioner for Education and Culture
 * Ashanti Region || Colonel R. K. Zumah || 1979 ||
 * Brong Ahafo Region || Lieutenant Commander I. K. Awuku || 1979 ||
 * Central Region || Dr. Kobena Gyapea Erbynn || 1979 ||
 * Eastern Region || S. H. Annancy || 1979 ||
 * Greater Accra Region || E. R. K. Dwemoh || 1979 ||
 * Northern Region || Lieuenant Colonel L. K. Kodjiku || 1979 ||
 * Upper Region || Major M. Gyabaah || 1979 ||
 * Volta Region || Lieutenant Commander G.K. Amevor || 1979 ||
 * Western Region || J. S. Amelemah || 1979 ||
 * }
 * Northern Region || Lieuenant Colonel L. K. Kodjiku || 1979 ||
 * Upper Region || Major M. Gyabaah || 1979 ||
 * Volta Region || Lieutenant Commander G.K. Amevor || 1979 ||
 * Western Region || J. S. Amelemah || 1979 ||
 * }
 * Volta Region || Lieutenant Commander G.K. Amevor || 1979 ||
 * Western Region || J. S. Amelemah || 1979 ||
 * }
 * }
 * }