On January 13 1972, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia was toppled in a coup.

The Prime Minister who had been in office since October 1 1969 won elections decisively after his party obtained 105 out of 140 Parliamentary seats.

The Oxford-educated sociologist defeated Komla Agbeli Gbedemah of the National Alliance of Liberals, Alhaji Imoru Ayarna of the People's Action Party, Joseph Emmanuel Appiah of the United Nationalist Party and Patrick Kwame Kusi Quaidoo of the All People's Republican Party.

He left for the United Kingdom on January 10, 1972 to undergo medical treatment only to be ousted three days later.

The insurrection was led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong who commanded the First Infantry Brigade with able support from Colonels Barney Kodzo Agbo, Kwame …

[5:13 pm, 24/01/2023] Voda1: PROFILE OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL E.A ERSKINE RETIRED ONE OF GHANA'S TREASURED HEROES

Emmanuel Alexander Erskine was born on January 19, 1935 at Fante New Town a suburb of Kumasi to the late Edward Affenyi Erskine and Elizabeth Ekua Baaba Ansah Ansah.

A staunch Anglican and the last of five children, he attended the Accra Royal School and the last Gold Coast National School for academic and holistic training.

After a brief but eventful stint with the Graphic Group Communications Limited where he worked as a proofreader under Awuley Mensah in its formative years, Kwamena Arhinful as he was affectionately known proceeded to Fijai Senior High School birthed on January 29 1952 which boasts of notable attendees such as Sophia Ophelia Adjeibea Adinyira, Mike Eghan, Professors Kobina Nkyekyer, Alfred Neequaye, Yaw Adu Sarkodie, Kwabena Owusu Acheampong, Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, Dr. Samuel Dufu, Dr. Aba Foli, Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah, R.B Forson, J.W Nketsiah, Jos Anyima-Ackah, Deborah Nana Yaa Brefo, Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo, Air Commodore Isaac Kingsley Kofi Yalley, Group Captain Albert Quamina Jones-Mensah, Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Fraikue and Major J.B Gyasi all retired for his secondary education.

Having worked as a driver for Shell Ghana Limited, he was recruited as a clerk for the Electricity Company of Ghana and Barclays now ABSA Bank.

Desirous of striving for a meteoric rise to fame and success, he enlisted as an officer cadet at the Regular Officers Special Training School which has been rechristened the Ghana Military Academy on March 17 1958 for a six month initial or preparatory training.

Assigned to Intake Ten which boasted of Generals Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Olusegun Obasanjo, Colonels John Augustine Kabore, Parker Hangsong Sackey Yarney, Charles Richard Tachie-Menson and Captain George Dako, he later attended the prestigious Royal Military Academy in Britain for further training and subsequent commissioning.

The institution birthed in 1947 with Serve To Lead as its endearing motto has impeccably nurtured some notable Ghanaian soldiers they are Lieutenant-Generals Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo, Joshua Hamidu, Obed Boamah Akwa, Peter Augustine Blay, Lawrence Aboagye Okai, Major-Generals Charles Mohammed Barwah, Daniel Kwao Addo, Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei, Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington, William Azure Ayamdo, Edward Kwaku Utuka, Kwesi Osei-Boateng, John Kofi Attipoe, Brigadiers Hubert Dua Twum-Barima, Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, David Acquah Asare, Innocent Goston Mawusi Kwasi Kpeto, Colonels Victor Coker Appiah, David Ahmadu Idissah, George Minyila, Kwaku Adade Takyi, Roger Joseph Atogetipoli Felli, Lieutenant-Colonel Seth Ohene-Asare, Majors Seth Kwabla Anthony, Ibrahim Rida, Courage Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah, Captains Kojo Tsikata and John Kwame Nkrabeah Effah Darteh.

Commissioned into the Signal Corps as a Second Lieutenant on December 15 1960, his commissioning coincided with the Nigerian trio of Benjamin Adekunle, Udokaha Jacob Esuene and Humphrey Chukwuka.

In a bid to serve dutifully within the Armed Forces, he undertook several courses in Britain and the United States of America to broaden his abilities intellectually.

This sharpened his skill which enabled him to hold numerous appointments in the Armed Forces such as Commanding Officer Signal Regiment on two separate occasions, Military Secretary where he served under Lieutenant-Generals Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, Joseph Arthur Ankrah, Albert Kwesi Ocran, Air Marshal Michael Akuoko Otu and Major-General Daniel Kwao Addo all of blessed memory.

The redoubtable soldier also served as Director of Communications, Director of Operations and Plans, Chief of Army Staff twice, Chairman Ghana Armed Forces Sports Control Board, Chief of Staff United Nations Emergency Force and Chief of Staff United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.

Following the establishment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on March 19 1978, the then United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Josef Waldheim appointed him as the first Force Commander a position he held till February 14 1981.

He later served as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Peacekeeping till his retirement from the Army as a Lieutenant-General on November 18 1986.

On his return to Ghana, he formed the People's Heritage Party and contested the November 3 1992 Presidential race with Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama as his running mate.

His visionary and transformational role at UNIFIL paved way for Lieutenant-General Seth Kofi Obeng retired to occupy the position of Force Commander from 1999 to 2001.

The highly-revered retired military officer served on the nine-member National Reconciliation Commission constituted on September 9 2002 under the chairmanship of Justice Kwaku Etrew Amua-Sekyi (deceased) which probed human rights abuse and made recommendations for reparation.

A prolific author his unique and lucidly compiled bestsellers namely Mission with UNIFIL Reflections of an African Soldier and Peacekeeping Techniques for Africa's Conflict Management are lavishly embossed on the lips of all and sundry.

The treasured gem who loved and enjoyed the game of Tennis to the hilt died aged eighty-six on May 7 2021 survived by Rose Anastasia Erskine nee Quaicoe a retired nurse and eight children.