Quick Facts
- Born:
- Sept. 23, 1931, Kumasi, Gold Coast
- Died:
- June 16, 1979, Accra, Ghana (aged 47)
- Title / Office:
- head of state (1972-1978), Ghana
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
chief of state, Ghana
Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (born Sept. 23, 1931, Kumasi, Gold Coast—died June 16, 1979, Accra, Ghana) was a Ghanaian army officer, who, after leading a military revolt that overthrew the government of Kofi Busia, became Ghana’s chief of state in 1972. In July 1978 he was forced to resign, and the following June he and his successor, Lieut. Gen. F.W.K. Akuffo, were executed after a coup led by young officers, whose Armed Forces Revolutionary Council returned Ghana to civilian rule in September 1979.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.