Gen. Acheampong's spirit of nationalism, economic empowerment peerless — Nana Nketia V

The Paramount Chief of the Essikado traditional area, Nana Kobina Nketia, has played up Ghana's fifth Head of State's spirit of nationalism and transformative economic policies, especially in the Agric sector, calling for more research into his uncharted portions of leadership to shape the views of the current generation.

He said General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's resilience, daring the global economic powers against the backdrop of a not-so-friendly stance from Western creditors and his resolute stand encapsulated in the house slogan “Yentua,” which galvanised nationalistic support for his policies.

"We need to honour him and not to vilify him. Today, we celebrate Burkina Faso’s president, Ibrahim Traore, and other military leaders on the continent for transforming their countries against threats from the Western world," Nana Nketia V, who is also an author and cultural historian, said.

Lecture

He was delivering the maiden General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong lecture series at the University of Ghana, Legon, last Tuesday night, organised by the Kutu Acheampong Foundation.

The move to give a true account of the fifth Head of State's stewardship was influenced by a book published recently by Prof. Baffour Agyemang Duah, an academic and member of the Kufuor Foundation.

A packed auditorium of retired military generals, academics, Kutu Acheampong's wife and former first lady, Faustina, children -- Tony Kutu Acheampong, Naa Serwaa Acheampong, Grace and Gladys Acheampong, the lecture was not to glorify nor condemn him but to create an understanding of his rule.

It also presented the complexities of his character, evoked the truth of history and created an understanding of the intricate tapestry of his legacy.

Projects

Speaking on the topic: "My Abrewa and the ancestors absolve me: A reflection on General Acheampong from public memory and Ghana's leadership historiography," the Omanhene of Essikado said with self-reliance as its mainstay, Acheampong initiated projects like "Operation Feed Yourself and Operation Feed Your Industries", supported successful businesses such as Tata Brewery, Kowus Motors, Boakye Mattress, Pioneer Tobacco, and Pambros Salt, among others.

"He truly believed that with a can-do mindset, Ghanaians can capture the commanding heights of the economy," quoting one of Acheampong's favourite statements.

As a PanAfricanist and a firm advocate for the regional integration of West African economies, Acheampong, with the support of General Gowon (former Head of State of Nigeria), established the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Under him, Ghana adopted the metric system and switched to right-hand driving.

Indeed, his impact on the social fabric of the country was significant, with notable improvements in public housing, education, irrigation systems and more - efforts that rekindled hope and a strong sense of patriotism among Ghanaians.

Background

General Acheampong led a bloodless coup with his National Redemption Council (NRC) in 1972 to overthrow a democratically elected prime minister, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia.

He was later, on July 5, 1978, overthrown by Lieutenant General Fred Akuffo in a palace coup triggered by his referendum on the Union Government idea, which ironically became the catalyst for his exit from power.

Nana Nketia recounted that the twilight of his regime was marked with corruption or Kalabule, hoarding of "essential commodities," societal moral decadence and some unverified allegation, which compounded his challenges with the proposal of the union government.

He was among a number of military officers who were executed by firing squad at Teshie in Accra.

Nana Nketia, who is also the president of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, said from hindsight, his execution, alongside other military leaders of his time, was both tragic and unnecessary. 

Lessons

He said Acheampong's legacy must bring some level of illumination among African leadership "because we are constantly tempted by the temptations of power."

Nana Nketia said like every human being, General Acheampong had his flaws, especially during the Kalabule era, which contributed to the coup d'etat.

Unfortunately, he said, all the things that Acheampong's regime was accused of persisted in the country and called for a more nationalistic approach to solving national problems than a knee-jerk reaction.

One of the two surviving colleagues of General Acheampong, 85-year-old General Edwin Kwamena Sam, called for a change of mindset in dealing with national issues.

Recounting some of the interesting times, General (rtd) Sam said General Acheampong swept them off their feet with his mind-blowing policies because "we never believed he could do it."

He said to date, some of them did not know where and how Acheampong got his ideas and slogans from, including "ekafuo didi."

Truth

A retired physician and chair for the programme, Prof. Yaw Adu Gyamfi, said the lecture was not to open up old wounds but to share history with Ghanaians, especially how he was able to navigate the economic storm that he did not create.

"Africans do not bury the truth.

This will definitely ignite debate and research by looking at who we are," he said.

The retired physician said the late Acheampong was misunderstood and his death must not be in vain.