26 October 1926 – 17 April 1967 Place of Birth and Hometown :
Education & Career Pattern
Alakple Roman Catholic School, Angloga Senior School, Trained as a Cathechist
1947: Qualified as a Goldsmith but abandoned craft for Financial reasons 1947(July): Enlisted as a Private in the Infantry, School, Teshie of the Gold Coast Regiment 1952: Among West Afiicans selected for course in Eaton Hall, England 1954: Commissioned Lieutenant and seconded to British army on the Rhine 1955: Returned to Gold Coast and made Platoon Commander of Second Gold Coast Regiment of Infantry 1959: Platoon Commander with the rank of Captain and later Major 1960: Attended Company Commander’s copurse at School of Infantry in Westminster, England 1960: Among Second Battalion of Ghana Army sent to Congo where he commanded D Company of the battalion that guarded the Radio Station in the capital, Leopoldvdle (Kinshasa) 1963: Awarded Ghana Service Order for Exceptional Bravery for Distinguished Service in the Congo. 1965: Kotoka was transferred to Kumasi and befriended Major Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, Commander of the First Infantry Brigade. 1966(24 February): Plotted and staged coup under code name “Operaflon Cold Chop”. There was heavy fighting but Afrifa was able to secure Broadcasting House and Kotoka announced the success of the coup at about 0630 hours on that day. Kotoka promoted Major General, he was member of the ruling National Liberation Council and Commissioner in charge of Health as well as General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Force. 1967(17 April): A counter coup, although unsuccessful, led to the killing of Kotoka by Lt. Moses Yeboah after heavy fighting. Ghana International Airport was renamed Kotoka International Airport in his memory.