General Acheampong’s Widow Marks The Death Of Her Husband, 41 Years After He Was Killed By Firing Squad

Mrs Faustina Acheampong, widow of the late General I.K Acheampong today visited the tomb of her late husband at Hwidiem where he was laid to rest after being put to death by firing squad exactly 41 years ago on 26th June 1979.

General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong was the Chairman of the National Redemption Council and Supreme Military Council and Head of state of Ghana from 1972 to 1978.

General I.K. Acheampong, together with General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa and General Federick William Kwasi Akuffo alongside five senior military officers: Amedume, Boakye, Felli, Kotei and Utuka, were executed by firing squad on 26 June 1979.

This was after the 4 June Uprising that ushered in the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), which was to be headed by Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings.

Acheampong’s regime is well remembered for its National Reconstruction initiative geared towards employment promotion and skill training for workers. Projects such street lights reconstruction and upgrading of stadia to meet global standards, can hardly be ignored.

There were indeed, also the other side of the coin. General Acheampong’s drive to make himself president for life through the foiled Union Government(UNIGOV), raised many eyebrows not only within his own military commissioners but also, among the Ghanaian population who recently escaped Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s one party state Government- the CPP, toppled on 24 February 1966.

As was to be expected, his SMC regime, eventually brought to a political shame and his eventual overthrow and confinement to his Trabuom village and death. General Acheampong and his colleagues, were hastily court-martialled, charged and executed for allegedly exploiting among others, the military profession to amass wealth.

Mrs. Acheampong, though known to be living in the UK, has today visited the tomb of the late former head of state to commemorate the 41st anniversary of his passing.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com