13 January 1972 – Ghanaian PM Ousted Whilst in London

On 13 January 1972 Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong successfully lead a military coup in Ghana whilst the prime minster, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, was in Great Britain for medical treatment. Dr Busia was accused of the same economic and social mismanagement that his predecessor, Kofi Kwame Nkrumah (who served as prime minister before becoming president).

In becoming the new Head of State, as Chairman of the National Redemption Council, Acheampong also removed president Edward Akufo-Addo from power. Dr Busia had been prime minister since his party won 75% of the seats in parliament in the 1969 national elections.