Akwasi Afrifa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa
Lt.Gen. Akwasi Afrifa
Chairman of the Presidential Commission
In office 3 September 1969 – 7 August 1970
Prime Minister	Kofi Abrefa Busia (1969 - 1972)
Preceded by	Presidential Commission created
Succeeded by	Nii Amaa Ollennu
Chairman of the National Liberation Council
In office 2 April 1969 – 3 September 1969
Preceded by	Joseph Arthur Ankrah
Succeeded by	Himself (as Chairman of the Presidential Commission)
Personal details
Born	(1936-04-24)24 April 1936 Mampong-Ashanti, Ashanti, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
Died	26 June 1979(1979-06-26) (aged 43) Accra, Ghana
Cause of death	Execution by firing squad
Spouse	Christine Afrifa
Profession	Soldier
Military service
Branch/service	Ghana Army
Years of service	1957–1970
Rank	Lieutenant general

Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa (born April 24, 1936 – died June 26, 1979) was a Ghanaian soldier, farmer, and politician. He also held the title of a traditional ruler. He became the head of state of Ghana and leader of the military government in 1969. Later, he was the chairman of the Presidential Commission from 1969 to 1970.

After leaving government, he continued farming and was active in politics. In 1979, he was elected as a member of Parliament. However, he passed away before he could take his seat. He was known by his title Okatakyie Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa. He was also a traditional leader in Krobo, part of the Asante-Mampong area in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Becoming a Leader: Akwasi Afrifa's Early Life and Training

Akwasi Afrifa went to Adisadel College for his high school education. After that, he joined the Ghana Army in 1957. He received special training at the Regular Officer's Special Training School.

In 1958, he went to the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England. He then completed his officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England. In 1961, he also studied at the School of Infantry in Hythe, United Kingdom. Afrifa also attended the Defence College in Teshie, Accra.

Akwasi Afrifa's Military Career

In 1960, Afrifa became a second lieutenant in the Ghana Armed Forces. From 1962 to 1964, he worked as a general staff officer in the army. He also attended the Defence College in Teshie, Accra.

Afrifa was one of the officers who served with Ghanaian troops in the United Nations Operation in the Congo. He moved up in rank to become a major. By 1965, he was a staff officer in charge of army training and operations. He was based in Kumasi at the headquarters of the Second Infantry Brigade.

Akwasi Afrifa's Political Journey

The 1966 Change in Government

While in Kumasi, Afrifa became good friends with Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka. Kotoka was a colonel and led the Second Infantry Brigade. At that time, Ghana had become a one-party state. This meant there was no real political opposition. In 1964, Kwame Nkrumah declared himself president for life.

At the same time, the price of cocoa, Ghana's main export, dropped a lot. This, along with big spending on new projects, caused Ghana to face financial problems. Many people were unhappy because prices for basic goods went up and things were hard to find. The Ghana Armed Forces also felt this unhappiness.

Nkrumah had asked the military to get ready for a possible mission in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Rhodesia had recently declared its independence under a white minority government. Kotoka used a training exercise as an excuse to move his troops from Kumasi to Accra for a change in government. Afrifa was a key helper in this plan.

It was later found that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States knew about these plans. They were not happy with Nkrumah's close ties to the Soviet Union and other communist countries. The CIA might have made things harder for Nkrumah's government, which helped the change happen. The military leaders acted while Nkrumah was on a trip to Hanoi. Afrifa's job was to take over the Broadcasting House. This was the building where the national radio station broadcast its news. After some fighting, he succeeded. This allowed Kotoka to announce the change of government to the whole nation.

Afrifa's Time in Government

After the change in government, Kotoka became one of the eight members of the National Liberation Council (NLC). Afrifa quickly moved up in rank, from major to lieutenant general, in the three years his government was in power. He was also made the commissioner (like a minister) for Finance and Trade.

The head of state of Ghana and chairman of the NLC, Joseph Arthur Ankrah, had to step down in April 1969. This was due to a disagreement over money involving a Nigerian businessman. Afrifa took over as head of state. Ankrah was accused of trying to influence the results of a poll. This poll showed him ahead of Afrifa and Kofi Abrefa Busia for the national elections coming up in August 1969.

Afrifa supported Busia, who was the leader of the Progress Party. Busia was a candidate in the upcoming National Assembly elections. Afrifa handed over power to Busia, who became the prime minister of Ghana when the Second Republic began. Afrifa continued as chairman of the new Presidential Commission until August 1970. Then, Nii Amaa Ollennu, the speaker of Parliament, took his place.

Working for Democracy

Later, the democratically elected Busia government was overthrown by Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and the National Redemption Council. Afrifa, who was known to support Busia, was arrested two days later on January 15, 1972. He was held until December 1972.

After his release, Afrifa mostly focused on farming in his hometown of Mampong. In 1978, the Supreme Military Council (SMC) government wanted to bring in a new political system. It was called Union Government (UNIGOV). This system would be a partnership between military and civilian leaders. Many people did not like it because they wanted a return to multi-party democracy.

A public vote was planned for March 1978. Afrifa was one of the leaders of the Popular Movement for Freedom and Justice. This group opposed the UNIGOV idea. Along with students and other thinkers, the movement demanded a return to a proper multi-party democracy.

Elected to Parliament

After Acheampong's government fell, the new SMC, led by General Fred Akuffo, organized elections. These were for president and parliament on June 18, 1979. However, these elections happened under the government of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The SMC itself had been overthrown on June 4, 1979.

Afrifa ran for and won the Mampong North constituency seat. He was part of the United National Convention party, which had ties to the Progress Party of Kofi Abrefa Busia. On June 26, 1979, just eight days after he was elected, Afrifa passed away. He never had the chance to take his seat in the Parliament of the Third Republic of Ghana. Ebenezer Augustus Kwasi Akuoko took his place in parliament.

Other Important Roles

The late Asantehene (Asante king), Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, gave Afrifa the title "okatakyie." This means "hero" in the Asante language. This happened after the NLC returned power to the civilian Busia government.

Afrifa was also the abakomahene of Krobo. This is a traditional role in the Asante-Mampong Sekyere Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region. Afrifa is also known for starting the Krobo Rehabilitation Project. He helped raise money to rebuild the entire village.

Afrifa's Family Life

Afrifa's parents were Opanin Kwaku Amankwa and Ama Serwaa Amaniampong. Both were from Krobo, near Mampong, in the Ashanti Region. At the time of his passing, he was married to Christine Afrifa. They had nine children together. His first child was Ama Serwa Afrifa. With Christine Afrifa, he had Baffour Afrifa, Baffour Anokye Afrifa, Maame Drowaa Afrifa, Serwaa Adimam Afrifa, Ayowa Afrifa, Sophia Amaniampong Afrifa, and Akosua Afrifa. His youngest son, Henry Afrifa, was born after his death.

Afrifa's Passing

Afrifa had expressed concerns about the future of military leaders. He worried about soldiers being punished to prevent future military takeovers in Ghana. This was due to problems with corruption and lack of discipline in the military at the time.

After the SMC government was overthrown by the AFRC, led by Jerry Rawlings, Afrifa was arrested again. This happened on his farm at Mampong. He and other senior military officers were put on trial. They were found responsible for corruption and using their positions to gain wealth.

However, investigations carried out later by the National Reconciliation Commission in 2004 suggested that the trials were not complete. It also seemed that the others who passed away were not properly tried. Earlier, Afrifa's own finances had been checked by the Sowah Assets Commission, and no problems were found.

On June 26, 1979, Afrifa passed away. This happened along with General Fred Akuffo, who was also a former head of state. Others who passed away that day included Major General Robert Kotei, Colonel Roger Felli, Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye, and Rear Admiral Joy Amedume. Reports suggest that Afrifa did not pass away immediately and had to be shot again. The bodies of the officers were buried without a public ceremony at the Nsawam Prisons Cemetery. This cemetery is near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

Reburial

The families of the officers asked President John Kufuor to return their bodies. This was part of a national effort to bring people together. On December 27, 2001, the bodies were given back to their families in Accra. Afrifa's remains were finally laid to rest in his hometown of Krobo on January 28, 2002.

See Also

• Akan names
• National Liberation Council