Frank Bernasko
Encyclopedia
Frank George Bernasko was a retired Ghana
ian soldier
, lawyer
and politician
. He served as the Commissioner for Agriculture among others in the National Redemption Council
(NRC) military government of General I.K. Acheampong. He was also the founder and leader of the erstwhile Action Congress Party
and contested the presidential election
in 1979.
in the Central Region
and Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region
of Ghana
. His secondary education was at the Adisadel College
also at Cape Coast. He then attended the University of the Gold Coast (now University of Ghana
).
and rose to the rank of Colonel
. He was once the officer in charge of education at the Armed Forces Recruit Training Center in Kumasi
. He also served as the Garrison Education Officer in Accra
. He held the position of Director of Studies at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School at Teshie
in Accra. He later became the Director of Education for the Ghana Armed Forces.
of 13 January 1972 which overthrew the Busia government
, he was appointed as the Central Regional
Commissioner. He later also served as the Commissioner for Agriculture and then the Commissioner for the newly created ministry of Cocoa Affairs. He is also credited with being instrumental in the completion of various projects in the Region including the Regional House of Chiefs, the moving of prisons from the Cape Coast Castle
and the Anomabo Fort. While Commissioner for Agriculture, he supervised the "Operation Feed Yourself" programme geared towards ensuring national food self sufficiency. Bernasko is also credited with the success of the Dawhenya Irrigation Project and the increased uptake of agriculture which led to the first national agricultural show in 1974.
while serving as Central Regional Commissioner in the NRC military regime. He denied these allegations.
since leaving active Ghana politics. He died in June 2010 at the St George's Hospital
at Tooting
, in the south of London
.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the Commissioner for Agriculture among others in the National Redemption Council
National Redemption Council
The National Redemption Council was the ruling Ghana military government in from January 13, 1972 to October 9, 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.-Duration of rule:...
(NRC) military government of General I.K. Acheampong. He was also the founder and leader of the erstwhile Action Congress Party
Action Congress Party
The Action Congress Party was a political party in Ghana during the Third Republic .In elections held on 18 June 1979, ACP presidential candidate Frank Bernasko won 9.4% of the vote and the party won 10 of 140 seats in the National Assembly....
and contested the presidential election
Ghanaian presidential election, 1979
Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 18 June 1979 , with a second round on 9 July 1979. The result was a victory for Hilla Limann of the People's National Party, who won 62.0% of the votes in the second round....
in 1979.
Early life and education
Bernasko was born in Ghana. He had his basic education at Cape CoastCape Coast
Cape Coast, or Cabo Corso, is the capital of the Central Region of Ghana and is also the capital city of the Fante people, or Mfantsefo. It is situated 165 km west of Accra on the Gulf of Guinea. It has a population of 82,291 . From the 16th century the city has changed hands between the...
in the Central Region
Central Region (Ghana)
The Central Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is bordered by the Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.-Districts:...
and Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region
Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000,...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. His secondary education was at the Adisadel College
Adisadel College
Adisadel College is an Anglican school for boys in Cape Coast, Ghana, modelled on the English public school.-History:Adisadel was established in 1910 in a building at Topp Yard, near Christ Church and Cape Coast Castle...
also at Cape Coast. He then attended the University of the Gold Coast (now University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
).
Army career
Bernasko was an officer in the Ghana armyGhana Army
The Ghana Army is the army of the West African nation of Ghana. In 1959, two years after the Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana, the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the Royal West African Frontier Force, and formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army...
and rose to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. He was once the officer in charge of education at the Armed Forces Recruit Training Center in Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
. He also served as the Garrison Education Officer in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. He held the position of Director of Studies at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School at Teshie
Teshie
Teshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
in Accra. He later became the Director of Education for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Military government
After the coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of 13 January 1972 which overthrew the Busia government
Busia government
This is a listing of the ministers who served in Busia's Progress Party government during the Second Republic of Ghana. The Second Republic lasted from 1 October 1969 to 13 January 1972.-List of ministers:-References:...
, he was appointed as the Central Regional
Central Region (Ghana)
The Central Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is bordered by the Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.-Districts:...
Commissioner. He later also served as the Commissioner for Agriculture and then the Commissioner for the newly created ministry of Cocoa Affairs. He is also credited with being instrumental in the completion of various projects in the Region including the Regional House of Chiefs, the moving of prisons from the Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle is a fortification in Ghana built by Swedish traders. The first timber construction on the site was erected in 1653 for the Swedish Africa Company and named Carolusborg after King Charles X of Sweden. It was later rebuilt in stone....
and the Anomabo Fort. While Commissioner for Agriculture, he supervised the "Operation Feed Yourself" programme geared towards ensuring national food self sufficiency. Bernasko is also credited with the success of the Dawhenya Irrigation Project and the increased uptake of agriculture which led to the first national agricultural show in 1974.
1979 elections
Bernasko was one of the founders of the Action Congress Party, which was formed when the ban on party politics was raised in 1978. He contested the presidential elections in 1979 and came fourth, polling over 9% of the valid votes cast.National Reconciliation Commission hearings
Bernasko appeared before the National Reconciliation Commission to answer allegations of abuse of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
while serving as Central Regional Commissioner in the NRC military regime. He denied these allegations.
Retirement and death
Frank Bernasko took up private legal practise after leaving the NRC government. In later life, he was resident in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
since leaving active Ghana politics. He died in June 2010 at the St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting, England with the St George's, University of London which trains NHS staff and carries out advanced medical research....
at Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, in the south of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.