Rawlings and the 1979 Revolt in Ghana

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Periodical article

Title:	Rawlings and the 1979 Revolt in Ghana
Author:	Pieterse, Jan
Year:	1982
Periodical:	Race and Class
Volume:	23
Issue:	4
Period:	Spring
Pages:	252-274
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	coups d'état 1979 defence Politics and Government Military, Defense and Arms
Abstract:	4 June 1979 shook the ruling classes of Ghana with a revolt by the lower ranks in the armed forces -a revolt undertaken in the name of 'revolutionary justice'. In the present article, a critical assessment is given of its strengths and failings, in the following sections: the background to 4 June - 4 June - four military coups - military revolts from the ranks - ideology - class alliances - conclusion: the 1979 coup was, in one sense, a military coup to end all military coups. It was a highminded uprising carried by the lower ranks. As such, it holds an important lesson: when the armed forces become involved in politics then the armed forces will become politicised. It serves as a reminder to adventurous commanders - that guns can point either way - and to greedy politicians - that the nation is not just for grabs. Ref.