June 4th revolution in Ghana

The June 4th Revolution[1] or June 4th Uprising was an uprising in Ghana in 1979 that arose due to a combination of corruption and perceived bad governance. This led to frustration among the general public and misunderstandings within the Ghanaian army.[2][3][4][5][6]

June 4 revolution
DateJune 4, 1979
Location
Ghana
Result

Armed forces victory

Belligerents
 Ghana (Supreme Military Council) Ghana Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Commanders and leaders
Ghana Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
Ghana Fred Akuffo		 Ghana Jerry Rawlings

Cause

The revolution began when the military government of the Supreme Military Council (SMC II), consisting of Lieutenant General Fred Akuffo, put Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings on public trial for attempting to overthrow the government on May 15, 1979. This failed coup had happened because Rawlings, a junior soldier in the Ghanaian Army, and other Ghanaian soldiers were not given their salaries.

Rawlings turned the trial against the government by accusing it of massive corruption and requesting his fellow accused to be set free as he was solely responsible for the mutiny. He was publicly sentenced to death and imprisoned.[7]

On the night of June 3rd, 1979, junior military officers, including Major Boakye Djan, broke into the jail where Rawlings was held and helped free him. They then marched him to the national radio station to make an announcement. The first time the public heard from Rawlings was a statement that Rawlings had been released by the junior officers and that he was under their command. He requested all soldiers to meet with him at the Nicholson Stadium in Burma Camp, in Accra.

The soldiers rounded up senior military officers including three former heads of state, General Fred Akuffo, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Akwasi Afrifa for trial. They were executed by a firing squad.

Aftermath

Rawlings was then appointed the head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) by the revolting junior military officers to run the country until the ongoing election was completed.

Rawlings handed over his Power to Dr. Hilla Limann in September 1979. Rawlings later overthrew Limann's Government on 31 December 1981.

Though June 4th became a noted date in Ghana's history, it has been said to have caused negative repercussions for the nation.

See also

References
  1. Gocking, Roger, "The History of Ghana", Greenwood Publishing Group (2005), p. 212, ISBN 9780313318948
  2. Modern Ghana : "Credit June 4 Uprising for Ghana's political stability - Boakye Gyan" (4 June 2007), (retrieved 25 January 2018)
  3. Amamoo, Joseph G., "The Ghanaian Revolution", p. 190, iUniverse (2000), ISBN 9780595146277
  4. Ninsin, Kwame A., "Issues in Ghana's Electoral Politics", p. 40, CODESRIA (2017), ISBN 9782869786943
  5. New York Times : "Hard. Times Follow Ghana Coup" (30 July 1979) (Retrieved 25 January 2018)
  6. El País : "Los golpistas de Ghana prometen elecciones este mes" (6 June 1979) (Retrieved 25 January 2018)
  7. "June 4th Is About Values And Principles". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-03-13.

Bibliography
  • Amamoo, Joseph G., "The Ghanaian Revolution", p. 190, iUniverse (2000), ISBN 9780595146277
  • Ninsin, Kwame A., "Issues in Ghana's Electoral Politics", p. 40, CODESRIA (2017), ISBN 9782869786943
  • Gocking, Roger, "The History of Ghana", Greenwood Publishing Group (2005), p. 212, ISBN 9780313318948
  • New York Times : "Hard. Times Follow Ghana Coup" (30 July 1979)
  • El País : "Los golpistas de Ghana prometen elecciones este mes" (6 June 1979)
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