Ghana: Coups and Military Governments (1966–1981)

1. Coup overthrows Nkrumah; NLC takes power

   Feb 24, 1966Labels: Kwame Nkrumah, National Liberation

   • Britannica
   • NLC
   • 1966 Coup

2. Ankrah becomes NLC chairman and head of state

   Feb 24, 1966Labels: Joseph Ankrah, National Liberation

   • Ankrah
   • NLC

3. Parliamentary elections mark return toward civilian rule

   Aug 29, 1969Labels: Parliamentary elections, Second Republic

   • 1969 Election
   • Prime Minister

4. NLC ends as Second Republic begins

   Oct 1, 1969Labels: National Liberation, Second Republic

   • NLC
   • Prime Minister

5. Acheampong coup topples Busia government; NRC formed

   Jan 13, 1972Labels: Ignatius K, National Redemption

   • NRC
   • Prime Minister

6. ‘Operation Keep Right’ changes Ghana’s traffic direction

   Aug 4, 1974Labels: Operation Keep, National Redemption

   • Akuffo

7. Supreme Military Council replaces NRC

   Oct 9, 1975Labels: Supreme Military, Ignatius K

   • SMC
   • Judiciary GH

8. Union Government referendum held under SMC

   Mar 30, 1978Labels: Union Government, Supreme Military

   • 1978 Referendum

9. Palace coup removes Acheampong; Akuffo leads SMC II

   Jul 5, 1978Labels: Fred Akuffo, SMC II

   • SMC
   • Akuffo

10. Rawlings-led uprising overthrows SMC; AFRC takes power

    Jun 4, 1979Labels: Jerry Rawlings, Armed Forces

    • AFRC
    • June 4
    • SMC

11. AFRC conducts executions of senior former leaders

    Jun 16, 1979Labels: I K, AFRC

    • Acheampong

12. General elections held under AFRC supervision

    Jun 18, 1979Labels: 1979 general, AFRC

    • 1979 Election
    • Ghanaian Museum

13. Presidential run-off confirms Limann’s victory

    Jul 9, 1979Labels: Hilla Limann, People's National

    • 1979 Election

14. AFRC hands power to Limann; Third Republic begins

    Sep 24, 1979Labels: Hilla Limann, Third Republic

    • AFRC
    • 1979 Election

15. Rawlings coup overthrows Limann; PNDC established

    Dec 31, 1981Labels: Jerry Rawlings, Provisional National

    • 1981 Coup
    • Britannica
    • PNDC