Complete Biography & Profile of Fredrick William Kwasi Akuffo, Ex Head of State: 1978

1957: Enlisted as an Officer-Cadet in the Ghana Army. 1976: Chief of Defence Staff. General Akuffo and other members of the SMC saw the low esteem into which the military as using the public’s discontent for General Acheampong’s misrule, staged a palace coup on July 5, 1978 to remove Acheampong and accused him of running a ‘one Man show’. The coup maker formed SMC 11 and made Akuffo, Chairman. The Akuffo regime initiated moves to return the country to civilian rule by instituting a new Constitution Drafting Committee. He lifted the ban on politics but banned 105 prominent politicians including J H Mensah, Victor Owusu Imoro Egala, and Kofi Agheli Gbedemah. Despite his efforts at returning the country to constitutional rule, Akuffo did not seem to have the answer to country’s economic problems as workers who could not make ends meet took to the streets. It was in the midst of these confused events that Flight Lieutenant Jerry 1979 (June 4): John Rawlings struck and overthrew the SMC 11 . Akuffo was picked up and together with Acheampong and other senior military shot by firing squad at the Teshie military range.