Former President General Ignatius Acheampong left an indelible mark on Ghana’s housing sector, building iconic estates like Dansoman, the largest in West Africa at the time, and Teshie Nungua Estate, the Kaneshie market. Ironically, despite being responsible for building the most houses in Ghana, Acheampong never owned a property in Accra, only in his hometown.
Acheampong’s rise to power began with a bloodless coup in 1972, overthrowing the democratically elected government of the Progress Party and its leader, Dr. Kofi Busia. His regime achieved a remarkable economic turnaround, transforming a trade deficit of $56 million in 1971 into a trade surplus of $204 million in 1973. However, the oil crisis of 1973 triggered by the Arab embargo led to a significant increase in inflation, reaching 116.4 percent by 1977.
Despite allegations of corruption, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims. Acheampong firmly believed in the ideologies of President Nkrumah, which guided his actions during his time in power.
Tragically, Acheampong’s life was cut short when he was overthrown and executed by firing squad in 1979. His 25-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, brought him a final dinner of fufu, and his last words to her were, “Tell everybody I was a good man and pray for me”.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
