# Fred Akuffo

_Soldier, politician, former Chief of Defence Staff and head of state of Ghana (1937-1979)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/fred-akuffo
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Lieutenant General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo was a Ghanaian soldier and politician who was the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces from 1976 to 1978, and chairman of the ruling Supreme Military Council and the sixth military head of state from 1978 to 1979. He became leader of the government in a palace coup against General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, and was overthrown and executed in another military coup less than a year later.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 21 March 1937 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Akropong ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P19))
- **Died:** 26 June 1979 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P570))
- **Place of death:** Accra ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Ghana ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel; soldier; head of state ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P106))
- **Political party:** independent politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P102))
- **Education:** Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of Ghana (5 July 1978 – 4 June 1979); Minister for Defence (5 July 1978 – 4 June 1979) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234#P39))

## Questions

**When was Fred Akuffo born?**  
Fred Akuffo was born on 21 March 1937 in Akropong.

**What positions has Fred Akuffo held?**  
Positions held by Fred Akuffo include: President of Ghana (1978–1979); Minister for Defence (1978–1979).

**Where did Fred Akuffo study?**  
Fred Akuffo was educated at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School.

## Related

- [Kwame Nkrumah](https://diginpl.com/people/kwame-nkrumah)
- [John Mahama](https://diginpl.com/people/john-mahama)
- [Hilla Limann](https://diginpl.com/people/hilla-limann)
- [Edward Akufo-Addo](https://diginpl.com/people/edward-akufo-addo)
- [Jerry Rawlings](https://diginpl.com/people/jerry-rawlings)
- [John Atta Mills](https://diginpl.com/people/john-atta-mills)
- [Charles Arden-Clarke](https://diginpl.com/people/charles-arden-clarke)
- [Joseph Arthur Ankrah](https://diginpl.com/people/joseph-arthur-ankrah)
- [Akwasi Afrifa](https://diginpl.com/people/akwasi-afrifa)
- [Ignatius Kutu Acheampong](https://diginpl.com/people/ignatius-kutu-acheampong)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Fred Akuffo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Akuffo) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q718234](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q718234) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Fred Akuffo illustration.png by Voice of America (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fred_Akuffo_illustration.png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Fred Akuffo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Fred Akuffo illustration.png — Voice of America, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Fred Akuffo". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/fred-akuffo. Retrieved 5 November 2026.