Sam Jonah urges President Mahama to restore Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's rank

Sir Sam Jonah, the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and a prominent business magnate, has formally requested President John Mahama and the Armed Forces Council to reinstate the military rank of General to the late former Head of State, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. Speaking at the General Kutu Acheampong Public Lecture Series on November 13, 2026, Jonah argued that restoring the rank is a necessary step toward rectifying a "historical injustice" and ensuring due process for a leader who was executed without trial nearly five decades ago.

Jonah emphasized that his call for restoration is based on legal and procedural grounds rather than an endorsement of the 1972 coup that brought Acheampong to power. He pointed out that while other military leaders who were executed in 1979 also faced controversial ends, Acheampong was specifically stripped of his rank of General before his death. Jonah described the decision as a violation of the principles of fair trial and justice, urging the state and Parliament to officially acknowledge Acheampong's service as Ghana approaches its 70th independence anniversary in 2027.

During the lecture, Jonah characterized Acheampong as an "orphan of Ghana’s politics," noting that neither of the nation's major political parties has historically acknowledged his contributions. He criticized the prevailing narrative for focusing almost exclusively on economic and political controversies, arguing instead for a more nuanced examination of Acheampong’s leadership. Specifically, he highlighted the "Operation Feed Yourself" initiative as a landmark success, noting it successfully reduced rice imports to zero in 1975 and 1976 while fostering national participation in agriculture.

By advocating for the reinstatement of Acheampong’s name in military records, Jonah suggested that the state could begin to heal an "unhealed national wound." He concluded that a more complete historical narrative, which recognizes the complexities and achievements of former leaders, is essential for Ghana's development. The appeal now awaits a response from the Presidency and the Armed Forces Council as part of a broader discussion on national reconciliation and historical accuracy.