Victor Coker-Appiah

Victor Coker-Appiah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He served in various capacities in the National Redemption Council (NRC) military government led by Colonel I. K. Acheampong which overthrew the civilian elected government led by Kofi Abrefa Busia.

Colonel
Victor Coker-Appiah
Brong-Ahafo Regional Commissioner
In office
1974 – 30 April 1975
PresidentColonel Acheampong
Preceded byCommander J. A. Kyeremeh
Succeeded byLt. Col. O. K. Abrefa
Commissioner for Works and Housing
In office
1972–1974
PresidentColonel Acheampong
Preceded byMajor Roger Felli
Succeeded byColonel R. E. A. Kotei
Commissioner for Local Government
In office
1972–1972
PresidentColonel Acheampong
Preceded byMajor General N. A. Aferi
Personal details
EducationRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
Alma materAchimota School
ProfessionSoldier
Military service
AllegianceGhana Armed Forces
Branch/serviceGhana Army
RankColonel
UnitField Engineers Regiment

Education and training

Coker-Appiah attended Achimota School for his secondary education. After joining the Ghana Army, he became one of the first Ghanaians to be commissioned into the Engineers Regiment. He was also one of the first Ghanaians to train at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for between 1957 and 1958. He was promoted to the rank of Major in August 1965.[1]

Politics

Coker-Appiah is reported to be one of the officers who was involved in the overthrow of President Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party (CPP) government. He was responsible for arresting the Director of Military Intelligence among others. He was the commander of the Field Engineers Regiment based at Wajir Barracks at Teshie in Accra at the time.[1]

During the era of the National Liberation Council (NLC) military government, Coker-Appiah was the administrative head for the Western Region in 1969. He was instrumental in averting a strike by staff of the Prestea State Farms Corporation in the region during this period.[2]

Following the abortive attempt in April 1967 to overthrow the NLC government, Coker-Appiah led investigations that resulted in the public execution of the leaders.[1]

Colonel Acheampong initially appointed him as Commissioner for Local Government.[3] He was moved shortly afterwards to be the head for the Ministry of Works and Housing. In 1974, he was transferred to the Brong-Ahafo region where he became the Regional Commissioner.[4][5]

In April 1975, he was removed from the NRC government and later appointed the military attaché to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

References
  1. Baynham, Simon (1988). The military and politics in Nkrumah's Ghana (PDF). Boulder: Westview Press. ISBN 0813370639. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. Ofori, Henry, ed. (6 June 1969). "Coker-Appiah Averts Strike". Daily Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group (5, 810): 9. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. Know your commissioners. Public Relations Dept., Accra. 1972. OCLC 404100564. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. Nkrumah, I. K., ed. (6 December 1974). "Indian Hemp Trafficking - Severe Penalties for Culprits". Daily Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group (7513). Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  5. "Our army and national development: The story of an officer and a gentleman". Graphic Online. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Limited. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
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