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Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (?-1979) was a Ghanaian political and military leader. He led a coup d'état to overthrow the government of the Progress Party and its leader Dr. Kofi Busia on January 13, 1972.
He became Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC), which was later reformed into a Supreme Military Council, with Col. Acheampong (promoted to General) as its chairman until he was removed in a palace coup on 5 July 1978 and succeeded by the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. FWK Akuffo.
Notable historical changes/events introduced or implemented in Ghana during the period under General I.K. Acheampong include the ff.: change to metric system of measurement, change to right-hand drive, "Operation Feed Yourself" programme (aimed at developing self-reliance in agriculture), "National Reconstruction" movement (aimed at promoting employment and skill for workers), face-lift projects in cities, reconstruction/upgrading of stadia to international standard.
There were, however, widespread accusations of encouragement and endorsement of corruption in the country under his rule.
Gen. Acheampong, together with two other former Heads of State (Gen. Afrifa and Gen. Akuffo) and five other Generals (Utuka, Felli, Boakye, Kotei, Amedume), was executed by firing squad in June 1979 in the heat of the June 4th revolution.
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