Father’s Name: Kofi Ankrah
Mother’s Name: Beatrice Abashie Quaynor
Wife: left behind several wives
Children : 18
Education & Career Pattern
Wesleyan Methodist School, Accra
1939: Mobilised into West Africa Frontier Force on the outbreak of World War Two 1947: Commissioned Lieutenant (Within 14 years of his commissioning he rose through the ranks to become Lieutenant Colonel) 1960(August): Appointed Colonel (This was a high achievement then because there were few Ghanaians in his officer corps and Ankrah had to compete with a host of British officers to earn the promotion) 1960 – 1961: UN Peace-Keeping Force in Congo, Brigade Commander of force based in Lutuaborg, Kasai. 1961: Awarded the Military Cross for acts of unsurpassed gallantry in Congo. 1961: Promoted Brigadier. He performed his duties with such distinction that he was promoted Major General and appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. 1966: As a result of his excellent soldiering qualities, Ankrah was recalled from enforced retirement following the February 1966 coup to be Head of State. As Chairman of the NLC, Ankrah became Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces following the death of Kotoka. 1969: Was forced to resign as Chairman of NLC and Head of State over a bribery scandal involving Franz Nzerebe, a Nigerian businessman. Results of an opinion poll conducted by Nzerehe, contracted by the NLC for that purpose, showed Ankrah as the most popular person in Ghana from a field of prominent people including Afrifa and Busia. A commission of enquiry revealed that “monies changed hands” between Ankrah and Nzerebe which might have influenced the outcome of the polls. Ankrah was forced to resign.