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Ghana marks 47th anniversary of the June 4 Revolution
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Today marks the 47th anniversary of Ghana's June 4 Revolution, a significant and divisive event in the nation's political history. The uprising began as a military mutiny on May 15, 1979, when Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and other junior officers attempted a coup against the Supreme Military Council II SMC II. This initial attempt failed, leading to the arrest of Rawlings and his co-conspirators. Rawlings cited grievances such as unpaid salaries for junior officers, widespread corruption, poor governance, economic hardship, and indiscipline within the military as reasons for the mutiny. During his trial at Burma Hall, Rawlings took sole responsibility for the actions, gaining public support. On June 4, 1979, junior officers led by Captain Boakye Djan orchestrated a jailbreak, freeing Rawlings and seizing the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, which led to the overthrow of the SMC II. The takeover resulted in immediate violence, including the death of Major-General Odartey Willington, who had previously foiled the May 15 attempt. The mutineers established the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council AFRC, with Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings as Chairman. The AFRC launched a "House Cleaning Exercise" to combat corruption, which included the execution of three former military heads of state and five senior military officers. The AFRC's reign lasted from June to September 1979, after which power was transferred to the democratically elected Dr. Hilla Limann. However, Rawlings overt
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
A rare photograph showing former Head of State General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Major General Edward Kwaku Utuka moments before their execution has resurfaced. The image, shared by Adeyinka Makinde, depicts the two military officers hooded and tied to execution stakes at the Teshie Military Shooting Range in Accra, awaiting a firing squad. Acheampong and Utuka were executed on June 16, 1979, after being sentenced to death by decree of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council AFRC. The AFRC had seized power 12 days prior through an uprising led by junior officers and soldiers in the Ghana Armed Forces. General Acheampong, born in 1931, joined the British colonial army in 1951 and was commissioned into the Ghana Army in 1959. He served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Congo and became Chairman of the Western Regional Committee of Administration after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's government. Acheampong led the January 13, 1972 coup that removed Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia's government, establishing the National Redemption Council NRC, which suspended the 1969 Constitution and banned political activities. His rule ended in 1979 when the AFRC overthrew the Supreme Military Council government, leading to his trial and execution alongside Major General Utuka. The resurfaced photograph is noted as one of the few known images documenting their final moments.
BreakingThe US launched air strikes against Iran's coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, as well as its Revolutionary Guards IRGC, following an attack that killed two US troops in Jordan. US Central Command Centcom stated these strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punish those responsible for the Jordan attack. In response, Iran's army reportedly carried out drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait. This exchange of strikes marks an escalation in hostilities between the two nations, which had seen a preliminary ceasefire collapse. The US death toll in the conflict has now risen to 16.
Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress NDC, has stated that Koku Anyidoho, former Deputy General Secretary of the party, is no longer an NDC member. Gbande made this declaration on Eyewitness News on Thursday, July 16, 2026, explaining that Anyidoho ceased to be a member because he no longer holds membership. This statement followed Anyidoho's recent claim of still being an NDC member despite his dismissal. Gbande further alleged that Anyidoho is now a consultant, specifically a "spiritual consultant," for the New Patriotic Party's 2024 presidential candidate, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. When asked for evidence, Gbande maintained his assertion without providing proof. He also questioned Anyidoho's authority to comment on the NDC's internal elections, arguing that as a non-member, Anyidoho cannot dictate party election procedures.