The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghana

Ghana

Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...

ian government after the People's National Party

People's National Party (Ghana)

The People's National Party was the ruling party in Ghana during the Third Republic .All political parties in Ghana were disbanded following the January 1972 military coup led by Col. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. When political activities resumed in 1979, there were five parties contesting the...

's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings

Jerry Rawlings

Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...

, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council

Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Ghana

The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was the government of Ghana from June 4, 1979 to September 24, 1979. It came to power in a bloody coup that removed the Supreme Military Council, another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979 when...

. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7, 1993. In a statement explaining the coup d'état

Coup d'état

A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...

, Rawlings explained that a "holy war" was necessary due to the PNP's failure to provide effective leadership and by the collapse of the national economy and state services. The PNDC was a military dictatorship that co-opted civilians to give it credibility. The majority of Council members were civilians. The PNDC policies reflect a revolutionary government yet pragmatic in its approach. The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt the economic decay, stabilise the economy and consequently stimulate economic growth. Politically, its goal was to establish structures that would allow the permeation of ‘People Power.’ Most significantly, the PNDC, carrying with it the spirit of the June 4 1979 Uprising, brought to the table a change in the people’s attitude from a ‘government will provide’ position to being proactive in nation-building.

Members

The seven original members of the PNDC from its inception were as follows:

• Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
  Jerry Rawlings
  Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...
  
   - Chairman
• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah
  Joseph Nunoo-Mensah
  Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which overthrew the government of Dr...
  
   - retired Chief of Defence Staff
  Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)
  The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces. He is thus responsible for the administration and the operational control and command of the Ghana military. The Ghana Army was formed after World War II out of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African...
  
  
• Reverend Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah
  Vincent Kwabena Damuah
  Reverend Father Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah was a catholic priest, theologian and politician in Ghana. He was a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government and was also the founder of the Afrikania Mission. He was also referred to as Osɔfo Okɔmfo Damuah. Dr. Dumuah received a Ph.D...
  
  
• Warrant Officer (I) Joseph Adjei Buadi
• Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore
• Joachim Amartey Quaye
• Chris Bukari Atim
  Chris Bukari Atim
  Chris Atim was one of the seven original members of the PNDC that took power in Ghana on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7, 1993....
  
  

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

African Traditional Religion

The traditional religions indigenous to Africa have, for most of their existence, been orally rather than scripturally transmitted. They are generally associated with animism. Most have ethno-based creations stories...

.
Additions

• Mrs. Aanaa Naamua Enin- appointed 1985
• Ebo Tawiah
• Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri
• Justice D.F. Annan
  Daniel Francis Annan
  Justice Daniel Francis Kweipe Annan was a Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana. He is also a former member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which preceded the fourth republic and was once the Chairman of the National Commission for Democracy.-Early life:Daniel Annan was born in...
  
  - appointed 1984
• Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama
• Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata
• P. V. Obeng
  Paul Victor Obeng
  Paul Victor Obeng popularly known as P. V. Obeng is Ghanaian Mechanical Engineer, politician and chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology council. In 2010 was appointed by the President John Atta Mills administration as chairman of the National Development Planning...
  
  
• Major General Arnold Quainoo
• Maj. Gen. Winston C.M. Mensa-Wood
• Air Vice Marshal A. H. K. Dumashie
• Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant - appointed 1989
• Mrs. Susanna Al-Hassan
  Susanna Al-Hassan
  Susanna Al-Hassan or Susan Alhassan was a Ghanaian politician, who in 1961 became Ghana's first female parliamentary minister. She has written several children's books....
  
   - appointed 1985

Departures

• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo Mensah - resigned 1982
• Rev.Dr. Kwabena Damuah - resigned 1982
• Warrant officer (1) Mumuni Seidu- resigned June 1994
• Warrant Officer (I) Joseph Adjei Buadi - resigned December 1984
• Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore
• Joachim Amartey Quaye - executed August 1982
• Chris Bukari Atim
• Mrs. Anaa Naamua Enin - left in 1989
• Ebo Tawiah
• Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri
• Brigadier W.M. Mensa-Wood
• Mrs. Susanna Al-Hassan - departed 1987

August 1992 onwards - Final membership

• Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings - Chairman
• Justice D.F. Annan
• Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama
• Captain (rtd) Kojo Tsikata
• P.V. Obeng
• Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo
• Air Vice Marshal Dumashie
• Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant

PNDC members

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
Chairman and Head of state	Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings Jerry Rawlings Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...	1981 – 1993
Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana) The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces. He is thus responsible for the administration and the operational control and command of the Ghana military. The Ghana Army was formed after World War II out of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African...	Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah Joseph Nunoo-Mensah Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah is a Ghanaian soldier and politician. He is a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was also a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which overthrew the government of Dr...	1981 – 1982
Member	Rev. Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah Vincent Kwabena Damuah Reverend Father Dr. Vincent Kwabena Damuah was a catholic priest, theologian and politician in Ghana. He was a member of the Provisional National Defence Council government and was also the founder of the Afrikania Mission. He was also referred to as Osɔfo Okɔmfo Damuah. Dr. Dumuah received a Ph.D...	1982
Member	Warrant Officer (1) Joseph Adjei Buadi	1981 – 1984
Member	Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata Pore	1981 – 1982
Member	Joachim Amartey Quaye	1981 – 1982
Member	Chris Bukari Atim Chris Bukari Atim Chris Atim was one of the seven original members of the PNDC that took power in Ghana on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7, 1993....	1981 – 1982
Member and Chairman for the National Commission for Democracy	Justice Daniel Francis Annan Daniel Francis Annan Justice Daniel Francis Kweipe Annan was a Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana. He is also a former member of the Provisional National Defence Council government which preceded the fourth republic and was once the Chairman of the National Commission for Democracy.-Early life:Daniel Annan was born in...	1984 – 1993
Member	Susanna Al-Hassan Susanna Al-Hassan Susanna Al-Hassan or Susan Alhassan was a Ghanaian politician, who in 1961 became Ghana's first female parliamentary minister. She has written several children's books....	1985 – 1987
Member	Anaa Naamua Enin	1985 – 1989
Member	Ebo Tawiah	? – ?
Member	Naa Polku Konkuu Chiiri	? – ?
Member	Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama	? – 1993
Member	Captain Kojo Tsikata	? – 1993
Chairman of Committee of Secretaries	Paul Victor Obeng Paul Victor Obeng Paul Victor Obeng popularly known as P. V. Obeng is Ghanaian Mechanical Engineer, politician and chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology council. In 2010 was appointed by the President John Atta Mills administration as chairman of the National Development Planning...	? – 1993
Member	Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo	? – 1993
Member	Maj. Gen. Winston C. M. Mensa-Wood	1987 – 1992
Member	Air Vice Marshal A. H. K. Dumashie	? – 1993
Member	Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant	1989 – 1993

List of secretaries of state

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

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
Chairman of Committee of Secretaries	Paul Victor Obeng Paul Victor Obeng Paul Victor Obeng popularly known as P. V. Obeng is Ghanaian Mechanical Engineer, politician and chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology council. In 2010 was appointed by the President John Atta Mills administration as chairman of the National Development Planning...	1982 – 1993
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana) The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Ghana government official who is responsible for overseeing the country's foreign policy and international diplomacy. The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet....	Obed Asamoah Obed Asamoah Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah is a politician from Ghana. Asamoah is the longest serving foreign minister and Attorney General of Ghana under Jerry Rawlings from 1981 to 1997. Asamoah was educated at King's College London and at Columbia University. He was a lecturer in Law at the University of Ghana...	1982 – 1993
Secretary for Interior	Asiedu Yirenkyi Asiedu Yirenkyi Asiedu Yirenkyi is a Ghanaian playwright, the author of Kivuli and Other Plays.In the early 1960s Asiedu Yirenkyi became involved in the Ghana Drama Studio founded by Efua Sutherland, joining the Drama Studio Players. He later studied drama at the University of Ghana and Yale University, and...   Kofi Djin Winston C. M. Mensa-Wood E. M. Osei-Wusu E. M. Osei-Wusu Colonel Emmanuel M. Osei-Wusu is a former Ghanaian politician and military commander. He was Minister of the Interior from 1992-1996 in the Rawlings government....	1982 – 1983 1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Finance	Kwesi Botchwey Kwesi Botchwey Kwesi Botchwey is a Ghanaian former government official and Professor of Practice in Development Economics at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University....	1982 – 1993
Secretary for Defence	Iddrisu Mahama	1982 – present
Attorney General and Secretary for Justice	G. E. K. Aikins E. C. Tanoh	1983 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Education and Culture	Christina Ama Ataa Aidoo V. C. Dadson Joyce Aryee Joyce Aryee Joyce Rosalind Aryee is a Ghanaian politician and businessperson, currently Chief Executive Officer of The Ghana Chamber of Mines. She is also the founder of Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, a para-church organization.... Mohammed Ben Abdallah Adisa Munkaila Mary Grant	1982 – 1983 1983 1985 – 1987 1987 1988 – 1989 1989 – 1993
Secretary for Agriculture	Bortei Doku Steve Obimpeh Ibrahim Adams	align="left"|1983 – 1987 987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Cocoa Affairs	I. K. Adjei-Marfo	? – ?
Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs	Emmanuel Tanoh Nana Sarpong Akuoku	1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Trade Secretary for Trade and Tourism	? Kofi Djin John Bawa	1982 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development	John Agyekum Kufuor John Kufuor John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the second president of the 4th Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union... William H. Yeboah Joyce Aryee Joyce Aryee Joyce Rosalind Aryee is a Ghanaian politician and businessperson, currently Chief Executive Officer of The Ghana Chamber of Mines. She is also the founder of Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, a para-church organization.... Kwamena Ahwoi Kwamena Ahwoi Kwamena Ahwoi is a politician in Ghana who served as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development from 1990–2001 in the National Democratic Congress government, during the reign of Jerry Rawlings. He also briefly served as Minister of foreign affairs in 1997, and was acting minister...	1982 1987 1987 – 1988 ? – ?
Secretary for Rural Development and Co-operatives	Acquah Harrison	1982 – ?
Secretary for Fuel and Power	Appiah Korang Ato Ahwoi	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1993
Secretary for Transport and Communications	Mahama Iddrisu Yaw Donkor Kwame Peprah	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Roads and Highways	Yaw Donkor Mensah Gbedemah Richard Commey	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Lands and Natural Resources	Kwesi Renner Kwame Peprah J. A. Dansoh	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Industry, Science and Technology	G. B. Opoku Francis Acquah K. A. Butah	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Information	Joyce Aryee Joyce Aryee Joyce Rosalind Aryee is a Ghanaian politician and businessperson, currently Chief Executive Officer of The Ghana Chamber of Mines. She is also the founder of Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, a para-church organization.... Kofi Totobi Quakyi	1982 – 1985 1985 – 1993
Secretary for Health	Charles Buadu Air Commodore F. W. Klutse Steve Obimpeh	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare Secretary for Mobilization and Productivity	Adisa Munkaila Ato Austin George Adamu D. S. Boateng	1982 1982 – 1983 1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Secretary for Works and Housing	Alhassan Abubakar Emmanuel Appiah Korang Kenneth Ampratwum
Secretary for Youth and Sports	Amarkai Amarteifio Ato Austin Arnold Quainoo	1983 – 1987 1987 – 1992 1992 – 1993
Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture	Alexander Asum-Ahensah	2009 – present
REGION	NAME	TERM
Ashanti Region Ashanti Region The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000,...	J. Y. Ansah	? – ?
Brong Ahafo Region	J. H. Owusu-Acheampong	1982 – ?
Central Region Central Region (Ghana) The Central Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is bordered by the Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.-Districts:...	Ato Austin	1982 – ?
Eastern Region Eastern Region (Ghana) The Eastern Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It covers an area of 19,323 square kilometres, which is about 8.1% of Ghana's total land area. The region is divided into administrative districts. The total number of districts were increased from 17 districts to 21...	F. Ohene-Kenah	1982 – ?
Greater Accra Region Greater Accra Region The Greater Accra Region is the smallest of Ghana's 10 administrative regions in terms of area, occupying a total land surface of 3,245 square kilometres or 1.4 per cent of the total land area of Ghana...	Nii Okaidja Adamafio	1982 – ?
Northern Region Northern Region (Ghana) The Northern Region is the largest area of Ghana. As of 2009, it is divided into 20 districts. The region's capital is Tamale. Climatically, religiously, linguistically, and culturally, the region differs greatly from the politically and economically dominating regions of central and southern...	Thomas Ibrahim	1982 – ?
Upper East Region Upper East Region The Upper East Region is the smallest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 8,842 square kilometers or 2.7 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, it is the ninth most populated region with a population of 920,089 in 2000, accounting for...	Kundab Mobilla	1982 – ?
Upper West Region Upper West Region The Upper West Region of Ghana is located in the northwestern corner of the country and is bordered by Burkina Faso to the north. The capital and largest city is Wa. Other towns include Nandom, Daffiema, Jirapa, Kaleo, Nadowli, Lawra and Tumu....	Yelibora Antumini	1982 – ?
Volta Region Volta Region Volta Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is to the east of Lake Volta. Its capital is Ho.-List of districts:The region has 18 districts consisting of 3 municipal and 15 ordinary districts:-Background:...	Francis Agbley	1982 – ?
Western Region Western Region (Ghana) The Western Region of Ghana, reaching from the Côte d'Ivoire border in the west to the Central Region in the east, includes the large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points,...	J. R. E. Amenlema	1982 – ?