The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghanaian 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 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 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 - Chairman Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah - retired Chief of Defence Staff Reverend Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah Warrant Officer I Joseph Adjei Buadi Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore Joachim Amartey Quaye 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 in Ghana. Joachim Amartey Quaye was a labour leader who led a strike at the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC) and was removed by Hilla Limann'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.

Additions Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin- appointed August 1982 Ebo Tawiah - appointed August 1982 Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri - appointed January 1983 Justice D.F. Annan- appointed 1984 Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu - appointed October 1984 Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata - 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 - 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 - died 1992 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 PNDC Members Position Name From To NotesHead of state of Ghana and Chairman Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings December 1981 January 1993 Chief of the Defence Staff Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah January 1982 November 1982 Reappointed Chief of Defence Staff from Jan 1982 to Nov 1982Member Vincent Kwabena Damuah January 1982 1982 Catholic priestMember Warrant Officer I Joseph Adjei Buadi January 1982 December 1984 Coordinator for the Armed Forces Defence CommitteesMember Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore January 1982 1982 Secretary Armed Forces Defence Committee Member Joachim Amartey Quaye January 1982 August 1982 Union leaderMember Chris Bukari Atim January 1982 1982 General Secretary of the June Fourth Movement, Former First national vice president of the National Union of Ghana StudentsMember Aanaa Naamua Enin August 1982 December 1989 Member Ebo Tawiah August 1982 ? Trade Union leaderMember Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu October 1984 January 1993 Politician and businessmanMember Captain Kojo Tsikata July 1985 January 1993 National Security and Foreign Affairs, Retired soldierChairman of Committee of Secretaries Paul Victor Obeng July 1985 January 1993 Former student leader and Mechanical EngineerMember Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo 1982 January 1993 Chief of Defence Staff from 1983 to 1999Member Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri 1983 1984 Nandom NaaDied in officeMember and Chairman of theNational Commission for Democracy Justice Daniel Francis Annan 1984 January 1993 Retired Appeals Court JudgeMember Susanna Al-Hassan 1985 1987 Ghana's first female minister in 1961 and authorMember Maj. Gen. Winston C. M. Mensa-Wood 1987 1992 Chief of the Defence Staff, 1990 - 1992Died in office March 1992Member Mary Grant 1989 January 1993 Medical doctorMember Air Vice Marshal A. H. K. Dumashie 1992 January 1993 Chief of Air Staff until 1992Chief of Defence Staff from March 1992.

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

List of secretaries (ministers) of state Portfolio Secretary From To NotesChairman of Committee of Secretaries Paul Victor Obeng 1982 1993 Secretary for Foreign Affairs Obed Asamoah January 1982 1993 Secretary for the Interior Johnny F. S. Hansen January 1982 Apr 1982 J. M. Ewa Apr 1982 Dec 1982 Kofi Djin Dec 1982 Nov 1985 Major General Winston Mensa-Wood Nov 1985 Oct 1987 Nii Okaidja Adamafio Oct 1987 May 1991 Nana Akuoko Sarpong May 1991 Mar 1992 Colonel E. M. Osei-Wusu Mar 1992 Jan 1993 Secretary for Finance Kwesi Botchwey 1982 1993 Secretary for Defence Naa Polku Konkuu Chirii 1982 Nov 1983 Rear Admiral C. K. Dzang 22 Nov 1983 1985 Mahama Iddrisu 1985 6 Jan 1993 Attorney General and Secretary for Justice G. E. K. Aikins January 1982 1992 E.G. Tanoh 1992 1993 Secretary for Education and Culture Christina Ama Ata Aidoo January 1982 1983 V. C. Dadson 1983 ? Joyce Aryee 1985 1987 Mohammed Ben Abdallah 1986 1987 K. B. Asante 1988 1989 Mary Grant 1989 1993 Secretary for Agriculture Eugene Bortei-Doku January 1982 Dec 1983 John Akparibo Ndebugre 1984 1985 Isaac Adjei-Marfo 1985 1986 Stephen Obimpeh 1986 1992 Ibrahim Adam 1992 1993 Secretary for Cocoa Affairs Isaac Adjei-Marfo ? ? Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs E.G. Tanoh 1987 1992 Nana Akuoko Sarpong 1992 1993 Secretary for TradeSecretary for Trade and Tourism K. B. Asante January 1982 1986 Kofi Djin 1986 1992 John Bawa 1992 1993 Secretary for Culture and Tourism Asiedu Yirenkyi January 1982 1984 Mohammed Ben Abdallah ? 1986 Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development John Agyekum Kufuor January 1982 1982 Kwame Dwemoh-Kesse 1983 ? William H. Yeboah 1986 ? Kofi Acquaah Harrison ? Joyce Aryee 1986 1988 Kwamena Ahwoi ? ? Secretary for Rural Development and Co-operatives Kofi Ankomah January 1982 1982 Kofi Acquaah Harrison 1982 1986 Secretary for Fuel and Power E. Appiah Korang January 1982 1987 Ato Ahwoi 1987 1993 Secretary for Transport and Communications Mahama Iddrisu January 1982 1986 Kwame M. Peprah 1986 1987 Yaw Donkor 1987 1992 Kwame M. Peprah 1992 1993 Secretary for Roads and HighwaysDr. E. G. A. Don-Arthur19821983 Yaw E. O. Donkor 1983 1987 Mensah Gbedemah 1987 1992 Richard Commey 1992 1993 Secretary for Lands and Natural Resources Kwesi Renner 1983 1986 George Adamu 1986 1987 Kwame Peprah 1987 1992 J. A. Dansoh 1992 1993 Secretary for Industry, Science and Technology Kaku Kyiamah January 1982 1983 G. B. Opoku 1983 1986 Francis Acquah 1986 1992 K. A. Butah 1992 1993 Secretary for Information Ato Austin January 1982 1983 Joyce Aryee 1983 1985 Kofi Totobi Quakyi 1985 1993 Secretary for Health Charles Buadu 1983 1986 E. G. Tanoh ? Air Commodore F. W. Klutse 1986 1988 Nana Akuoko Sarpong 1988 1991 Stephen Obimpeh 1992 1993 Secretary for Labour and Social WelfareSecretary for Mobilization and Productivity Adisa Munkaila 1982 1983 Ato Austin 1983 1986 W. H. Yeboah 1986 1987 Huudu Yahaya ? George Adamu ? 1992 D. S. Boateng 1992 1993 Secretary for Works and HousingDr. E. G. A. Don-Arthur1983 Mawuse Dake January 1982 1983 Alhassan Abubakar 1983 ? Kofi Sam ? Emmanuel Appiah Korang Kenneth Ampratwum Secretary Responsible For International Economic CooperationDr. E. G. A. Don-Arthur19861990 Secretary for Youth and Sports Zaya Yeebo January 1982 1983 Amarkai Amarteifio 1983 1986 Ato Austin 1986 1988 Kwame Saarah-Mensah 1988 1992 Arnold Quainoo 1992 1993 National Defence Committee Mawuse Dake 1983 ? PDCs and WDCs Akrasi-Sarpong ? Regional Secretaries Ashanti Regional Secretary J. Y. Ansah ? ? F. A. Jantuah 1983 ? Colonel Osei Owusu Brong Ahafo Region K. Saarah-Mensah January 1982 1982 J. H. Owusu Acheampong 1982 ? C. S. Takyi 1983 ? Colonel Alex Antwi Central Regional Secretary Dr. E. G. A. Don-Arthur 1986 E. G. Tanoh 1983 ? Ato Austin 1988 1993 Lt. Colonel E. A. Baidoo Eastern Regional Secretary Fred Ohene-Kena 1982 ? Daniel O. Agyekum ? 1986 Kofi Acquaah Harrison 1986 ? Greater Accra Regional Secretary Atukwei Okai January 1982 1982 Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah 1983 ? Nii Okaidja Adamafio 1982 ? Colonel W. A. Thompson 1985 1986 Selina Taylor Colonel W. A. Thompson 1988 1991 Nii Okaidja Adamafio 1991 ? Northern Regional Secretary Thomas Ibrahim 1982 ? D. S. Zachariah Upper East Region Kundab Mobilla 1982 ? J. E. Sakyi Upper West Region Yelibora Antumini 1982 1983 Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1983 ? Volta Regional Secretary Francis Agbley 1982 ? Yao Fiagbe Richard Seglah Western Region J. R. E. Amenlema 1982 ? Dr. E. G. A. Don-Arthur 1983 1986 Colonel W. A. Thompson 1986 1988

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