Sir Sam Jonah Appeals for Restoration of Acheampong's Military Rank

Renowned businessman and Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Sam Jonah, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, the Armed Forces Council, and Parliament to restore the military rank of General to former Head of State Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. Acheampong was stripped of his rank by decree before his execution in 1979. Sir Sam Jonah described the removal of his military title, honours, and pension as unjust. He made the appeal at a lecture held in honour of Acheampong's legacy on November 13, 2026.

Acheampong was executed at the Teshie Firing Range on June 16, 1979, without being convicted by any court. Sir Sam Jonah recalled that Acheampong went to his death as a former president without his military rank. He argued that restoring Acheampong's rank should be treated as a matter of justice and due process rather than an endorsement of his leadership. Sir Sam Jonah acknowledged that Acheampong's period in power was controversial but maintained that the question of restoring his military rank should be considered separately from assessments of his political record.

Sir Sam Jonah stressed that the principle of due process must apply to everyone, irrespective of their political history or public perception. He stated that due process is not a reward for the virtuous but a protection for all, especially those who are disliked. Sir Sam Jonah questioned why Acheampong remained the only former military Head of State executed in 1979 whose military title was not recognised, while other officers who suffered the same fate continued to be remembered by their ranks.

Sir Sam Jonah referred to the Ghana Armed Forces' 2019 acknowledgement that the executions carried out in 1979 were an aberration. He argued that the decree which stripped Acheampong of his military rank should also be reviewed in light of that acknowledgement. This, he believes, would help Ghana confront its historical experiences more fully as the country approaches the 70th anniversary of independence.

Sir Sam Jonah disclosed that he was lending his support to a petition recently submitted to President Mahama by the Ambassadors for Reconciliation, Justice and Peace Africa. The petition calls for the restoration of Acheampong's rank of General, reinstatement of his name on the rolls of the Ghana Military Academy, and return of the honours associated with the rank to his family.

Sir Sam Jonah maintained that restoring Acheampong's rank does not rewrite history but completes it. He called on the President, the Armed Forces Council, and Parliament to take steps to address the matter within their respective legal mandates. This, he believes, would bring closure to a chapter in Ghana's history that remains an unhealed wound.

The appeal by Sir Sam Jonah is a significant development in the ongoing conversation about Ghana's history and the need for justice and reconciliation. As the country approaches its 70th anniversary of independence, Sir Sam Jonah's call for the restoration of Acheampong's military rank is a reminder of the importance of confronting and addressing the country's historical experiences.

Key points

• Sir Sam Jonah urges President Mahama to restore Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's military rank of General
• Acheampong was stripped of his rank by decree before his execution in 1979
• Sir Sam Jonah argues that restoring Acheampong's rank is a matter of justice and due process