Albert Kwesi Ocran
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Albert Kwesi Ocran (born 1929) is a soldier
and politician
. He was a member of the Presidential Commission of Ghana between 1969 and 1970. He is a former Chief of the Defence Staff
of the Ghana Armed Forces
and was a member of the National Liberation Council
(NLC) military government in Ghana
.
of the United Kingdom
's Royal West African Frontier Force
in 1954. He later rose to become a Colonel
in the Ghana army
after independence. He was the commander of the First Infantry Brigade of the army now known as the Southern Command at the time of the coup d'état
of 1966. He was promoted to Brigadier
following the coup and made Chief of Army Staff, a position he held for six months. He was reappointed Chief of Army Staff in May 1967. He was promoted to the position of Chief of the Defence Staff in November 1968 and continued as such until November 1969.
in Ghana. This led to the overthrow of the Convention People's Party
(CPP) government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
on February 24, 1966. After the coup, he was one of the eight members of the National Liberation Council
(NLC), which replaced the Nkrumah government
.
He was promoted to Brigadier as well as becoming a member of the new NLC military government. After the parliamentary election
of 1969, Ocran became one of three members of an interim Presidential Commission which ushered in the second republic. The other members were John Willie Kofi Harlley
, the Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service
and Lt. Gen. Akwasi Afrifa
who was the chairman. He remained on the commission till it was dissolved in August 1970. The commission was replaced by an interim ceremonial president, Nii Amaa Ollennu
.
in 2006.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Albert Kwesi Ocran (born 1929) is a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a member of the Presidential Commission of Ghana between 1969 and 1970. He is a former 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...
of the Ghana Armed Forces
Military of Ghana
The Ghana Armed Forces consists of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. It is supervised by the Ministry of Defence . With around 7,000 personnel serving in the Ghanian military, Ghana has the lowest ratio of active troops per thousand citizens in the world, standing at 0.33. However, the Ghanaian...
and was a member of the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
(NLC) military government in 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...
.
Career
Ocran was commissioned as an officer in the Gold Coast RegimentGhana Regiment
The Ghana Regiment is an infantry regiment that forms the main fighting element of the Ghanaian Army.The regiment was formed in 1879 as the Gold Coast Constabulary, from personnel of the Hausa Constabulary of Southern Nigeria, to perform internal security and police duties in the British colony of...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
in 1954. He later rose to become a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Ghana army
Ghana Army
The Ghana Army is the army of the West African nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army...
after independence. He was the commander of the First Infantry Brigade of the army now known as the Southern Command at the time of 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...
of 1966. He was promoted to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
following the coup and made Chief of Army Staff, a position he held for six months. He was reappointed Chief of Army Staff in May 1967. He was promoted to the position of Chief of the Defence Staff in November 1968 and continued as such until November 1969.
Politics
The then Colonel Ocran came into national prominence with his involvement in the first coup d'étatCoup 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...
in Ghana. This led to the overthrow of the Convention People's Party
Convention People's Party
The Convention People's Party is a socialist political party in Ghana, based on the ideas of former President Kwame Nkrumah.The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah to campaign for the independence of the Gold Coast. It ruled Ghana from 1957 to 1966...
(CPP) government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
on February 24, 1966. After the coup, he was one of the eight members of the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
(NLC), which replaced the Nkrumah government
Nkrumah government
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the first Prime Minister and first President of Ghana.-Nkrumah's first independence government :Nkrumah had run governments under the supervision of the British government through Charles Arden-Clarke, the Governor-General. His first government under colonial rule started...
.
He was promoted to Brigadier as well as becoming a member of the new NLC military government. After the parliamentary election
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 1969
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 29 August 1969. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup by the National Liberation Council which toppled the Nkrumah government. The election was to select members for the 140 seat legislative body. Kofi Abrefa Busia, the leader...
of 1969, Ocran became one of three members of an interim Presidential Commission which ushered in the second republic. The other members were John Willie Kofi Harlley
John Willie Kofi Harlley
John Willie Kofi Harlley was a former foreign minister of Ghana. He was a member of the Presidential Commission that ruled Ghana during the military era of the National Liberation Council and the first year of the Second Republic...
, the Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service
Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service
The Inspector General of Police is the most senior Police Officer in Ghana. The IGP is appointed by the President of Ghana acting in consultation with the Council of State. The IGP is the head of the Police service and is responsible for the operational control and the administration of the Police...
and Lt. Gen. Akwasi Afrifa
Akwasi Afrifa
Brigadier Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa was a Ghanaian soldier, farmer, a traditional ruler and politician.He was the head of state of Ghana and leader of the military government in 1969 and then Chairman of the Presidential Commission between 1969 and 1970. He continued as a farmer and political activist...
who was the chairman. He remained on the commission till it was dissolved in August 1970. The commission was replaced by an interim ceremonial president, Nii Amaa Ollennu
Nii Amaa Ollennu
Raphael Nii Amaa Ollennu was the Chairman of the Presidential Commission and acting President of Ghana during the Second Republic from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970.-Early life:...
.
Life after politics
Albert Ocran became the president of the Veterans Association of Ghana. He is also one of the people honoured by president John KufuorJohn Kufuor
John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the second president of the 4th Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union...
in 2006.