Fred Akuffo

Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo, called Fred Akuffo ( born March 21, 1937 in Akropong, † June 26, 1979 in Accra ) was from 1978 to 1979 head of state of Ghana.

Soldier

After schooling, he joined the army in 1957 and visited Ghana from 1958 to 1960 the Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1961 he was part of the contingent of Ghana during the United Nations Operation in the Congo. He grew up in the military hierarchy and visited the meantime training courses in the UK and India. In 1975 he became a member of since 1972 ruling under the leadership of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong junta Supreme Military Council.

Head of state

Akuffo was chief of staff when Acheampong was overthrown on 5 June 1978 in a palace coup by his colleagues. He was succeeded as chairman of the junta and as head of state of Ghana. In contrast to his predecessor Akuffo was willing to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund. The measures included a drastic depreciation of the Cedi, what the last civilian government was overthrown in 1972, and a strong reduction of the budget deficit. Immediately after taking power, he ordered the release of most political prisoners and promised the corruption that has been accused of the military government so far, to effectively combat. For this purpose, a new constitution and the holding of elections in June 1979 were promised. While on the one hand, international aid for Ghana was resumed, the economic situation in the country deteriorated further and Akuffos first government was faced with strikes and demonstrations.

Fall

A first coup attempt by Jerry Rawlings failed against him in May 1979. Upon successful coup by Rawlings on June 4, 1979, Akuffo, the other two former heads of state and Afrifa Acheampong and five other senior officers shot summarily. About the exact date of death, there are discordant data ( 26 or June 30, 1979 ).

President John Agyekum Kufuor ordered in April 2001, to exhume the bodies of the shot, to allow families a decent burial.