By Spendilove Incoom
On January 13, 1972, Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, then commander of Ghana’s First Infantry Brigade, led a bloodless coup that overthrew Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia’s Progress Party government.
The coup ended Ghana’s Second Republic and ushered in a military regime under the National Redemption Council (NRC).
Acheampong cited economic mismanagement, rising inflation, and public dissatisfaction as reasons for the intervention. Busia’s unpopular austerity measures, including wage freezes and currency devaluation, had worsened public hardships.
The coup marked a turning point in Ghana’s political history, sparking debates about its impact on governance and development.
While some saw Acheampong’s leadership as necessary to stabilise the nation, others criticised his administration for corruption and mismanagement.
As Ghana reflects on this event 53 years later, it underscores the importance of protecting democracy and learning from past disruptions.
