The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...

ian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, in a

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

on 31 December 1981. He remained in power until 7 January 1993. In a statement, Rawlings said that a "holy war" was necessary due to the PNP's failure to provide effective leadership and the collapse of the national economy and state services. The PNDC was a military dictatorship that induced civilians to participate in governance. Most of its members were civilians. Its policies reflected a revolutionary government that was pragmatic in its approach. The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt Ghana's economic decay, stabilize the economy, and stimulate economic growth. The PNDC also brought a change in the people’s attitude from a 'government will provide' position to participating in nation-building. The PNDC provided a new constitution in 1992 and held elections that year. Rawlings's party, the NDC, won the

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The p ...

with 58% of the vote. The opposition boycotted the subsequent parliamentary elections.

Members

The seven original members of the PNDC from its inception were as follows: * Flt. Lt.

Jerry John Rawlings Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 194712 November 2020) was a Ghanaian military officer and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the de ...

- Chairman * Brigadier

Joseph Nunoo-Mensah Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (born 14 February 1939) is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which over ...

- retired Chief of Defence Staff * Reverend Dr.

Vincent Kwabena Damuah Reverend Father Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah (April 1930 – August 1992) was a Catholic priest, theologian and politician in Ghana. He was a member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government and was also the founder of the Af ...

* Warrant Officer I

Joseph Adjei Buadi Joseph Kwame Adjei Buadi ( 1946 – 2016 ) was a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He was one of the original members of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government which came to power following the overthrow of the Lim ...

* Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore *

Joachim Amartey Quaye Joachim Amartey Quaye was a Ghanaian politician. He was found guilty of involvement in the murder of four Ghanaian citizens and executed by a firing squad in 1982. Politics Amartey Quaye was one of the original seven members of the Provisional N ...

* Chris Bukari Atim Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, who had been retired by the Limann government, was recalled as Chief of Defence Staff and the second-in-command of the PNDC. Reverend Damuah was an outspoken priest of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

in Ghana. Joachim Amartey Quaye was a labour leader who led a strike at the

Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited was first modern distillery company to be established in West Africa. It was established by the pre-independence Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in 1958 as the State Distilleries Corporation for the man ...

(GIHOC) and was removed by

Hilla Limann Hilla Limann, (12 December 1934 – 23 January 1998) was a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served the President of Ghana from 24 September 1979 to 31 December 1981. He served as a diplomat in Lome, Togo and Geneva, Switzerland. Education ...

's government. Chris Bukari Atim was a student leader and friend of Jerry Rawlings. Adjei Buadi and Akata Pore were junior ranks in the Ghana Air Force.

Departures and replacements

Over the years, some people were added to the membership and others left. A number left in 1982 due to ideological differences. Joachim Amartey Quaye was executed for his involvement in the murder of three senior judges and a retired army officer. Rev. Damuah who was suspended from the Catholic Church because of his involvement in the government left in late 1982 and started his own church later called the Afrikania Mission, an organization devoted to the promotion of

African Traditional Religion The traditional beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural ...

. Additions * Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin- appointed August 1982 *

Ebo Tawiah Ebo Tawiah is a Ghanaian unionist and politician. He was a member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government led by Jerry Rawlings which ruled Ghana after the overthrow of the Limann government. Unionist Prior to his ...

- appointed August 1982 *

Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri was a Ghanaian teacher, traditional leader and politician. He served as a member of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government. Politics Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri was appointed as a PNDC member in 19 ...

- appointed January 1983 * Justice D.F. Annan- appointed 1984 * Alhaji

Mahama Iddrisu Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu is a Ghanaian politician and a businessman. Iddrisu was a member of the Provisional National Defence Council and he is a former Minister for Defence. He is a founding member of the National Democratic Congress. He is the l ...

- appointed October 1984 * Captain (rtd)

Kojo Tsikata Kojo Tsikata (1936 – 20 November 2021) was a Ghanaian military officer and politician, who served as the Head of National Security and Foreign Affairs of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). He was listed as a retired army captain ...

- July 1985 * P. V. Obeng - July 1985 * Major General Arnold Quainoo * Maj. Gen. Winston C.M. Mensa-Wood * Captain (rtd) Kingsley Bruce * Air Vice Marshal A. H. K. Dumashie * Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant - appointed 1989 * Mrs.

Susanna Al-Hassan Susanna Al-Hassan or Susan Alhassan (27 November 1927 – 17 January 1997) was a Ghanaian author and politician, who in 1961 became Ghana's first female to be appointed minister. She was the first African woman to hold a cabinet portfolio and be ...

- appointed 1985 Departures * Brigadier Joseph Nunoo Mensah - resigned 1982 * Rev. Dr. Kwabena Damuah - resigned 1982 * Warrant Officer I Mumuni Seidu- resigned June 1994 * Warrant Officer I Joseph Adjei Buadi - resigned December 1984 * Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore - 1982 * Joachim Amartey Quaye - executed August 1982 * Chris Bukari Atim - resigned 1982 * Ebo Tawiah * Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri - died 25 August 1984 * Brigadier W. M. Mensa-Wood * Captain Kingsley Bruce * Mrs. Susanna Al-Hassan - departed 1987 * Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin - left in 1989

August 1992 onwards — final membership

* Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings - Chairman * Justice D. F. Annan * Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu * Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata * P. V. Obeng * Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo * Air Vice Marshal Dumashie * Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant

Membership

Secretaries

The officials in charge of the various ministries were designated as Secretaries of state.

References

{{African coups d'État Military of Ghana Military coups in Ghana Governments of Ghana Politics of Ghana 1993 in Ghana 1981 establishments in Ghana 1993 disestablishments 1980s coups d'état and coup attempts Military dictatorships