Gen Joseph Arthur Ankrah was a Ghanaian military officer and statesman who served as the third head of state of Ghana from 1966 to 1969. Born on August 18, 1915, in Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Ankrah was one of the key figures in the history of Ghana's military and political landscape. He was educated at the Accra Academy and then proceeded to join the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1939.

Ankrah’s military career was marked by rapid advancement. He received training in Nigeria, England, and India, and by the time of Ghana’s independence in 1957, he had risen to the rank of Major. He continued to climb the ranks, eventually becoming a lieutenant colonel and the first Ghanaian commander of the Ghana Army in 1961. However, Ankrah's career hit a snag when he was implicated in a mutiny by some soldiers in 1963, which led to his dismissal from the army.

Despite his dismissal, Ankrah's political career was far from over. In February 1966, a military coup led by the National Liberation Council (NLC) overthrew President Kwame Nkrumah's government, and Ankrah was brought out of retirement to head the NLC as Chairman, effectively becoming the head of state. Ankrah’s government focused on stabilizing the economy, improving relations with Western countries, and reversing some of the socialist policies of the Nkrumah administration. His rule, however, was not without challenges, as Ghana faced economic difficulties and political unrest during this period.

In April 1969, Ankrah was forced to resign from his position following allegations of corruption and his perceived involvement in influencing a local beauty contest. His resignation marked the end of his political career, and he was succeeded by Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa. Ankrah lived the remainder of his life away from the public eye and passed away on November 25, 1992.

Joseph Arthur Ankrah's legacy is mixed, as he played a crucial role in the transitional period of Ghana's history but also faced criticism for his leadership. His time in power is often seen as a period of relative stability in Ghana’s tumultuous post-independence history, despite the economic and political challenges that persisted during his tenure.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Arthur_Ankrah