Major Adjei-Ampofo recounts heartbreak over 1966 coup against Nkrumah
Major Patrick Adjei-Ampofo Rtd, Military Assistant to former Head of State General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, shared his feelings about the 1966 military coup that overthrew Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. In an interview with Kafui Dey on August 31, 2026, Major Adjei-Ampofo stated he was heartbroken upon learning that a military exercise he was involved in was a plan to overthrow Dr. Nkrumah. He recounted being in the bush on patrol when he was informed the exercise was shifting to a larger brigade operation. He then traveled directly from the bush to Accra, where he discovered the true objective was to overthrow Kwame Nkrumah. Major Adjei-Ampofo described the experience as "terrible," noting his family, particularly his aunties, were staunch supporters of the Convention People's Party CPP, Dr. Nkrumah's party. He explained that he was deeply saddened when he was informed at Dodowa Junction, just outside Accra, that he was to participate in the overthrow of a party his family supported. Despite his personal reservations and heartbreak, he felt compelled to follow orders as a soldier. The 1966 coup, codenamed "Operation Cold Chop," was launched by elements within the Ghana Armed Forces and Ghana Police Service under the National Liberation Council while Dr. Nkrumah was on a peace mission in Hanoi, North Vietnam.
