Ignatius Kwasi Kutu Acheampong an indigene of Atwima Hwidiem was born on September 23, 1931 to James Kwadwo Kutu Acheampong and Akua Manu.
He attended the Central College of Commerce for his secondary education and taught as a tutor at Kumasi Commercial College.
The boyishly handsome prodigy also served as Vice-Principal of the Central College of Commerce and finally Principal of the Western Commercial Institute. After leaving the field of education, he enlisted in the Ghana Armed Forces in 1953.
His dedication and studiousness warranted his selection for initial training at the Regular Officers Special Training School a precursor of the Ghana Military Academy with Matthew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, Emmanuel Alexander Kwamena Arhinful Erskine, John Yaw Assasie, George Dako, John Augustine Kabore, S K Sasu-Hunu, L K Kwaku, Charles Richard Tachie-Menson and Parker H S Yarney as course mates of Intake Ten.
Acheampong whose patronymic means destined for greatness underwent overseas training at the Mons Officers Cadet School in Aldershot and the General Staff Command College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Following his commissioning into the Infantry Corps as a Second Lieutenant, he also embarked on an attachment with the British Army at Wuppertal in Germany.
A devout Catholic, he saw action in the Democratic Republic of Congo and also served as Chairman of the Western Committee of Administration under the National Liberation Council regime.
By dint of diligence and dedication to duty he also held numerous appointments in the Army served as Adjutant at the Second Battalion of Infantry, Commanding Officer of both the Fifth and Sixth Battalions of Infantry.
Elevated to the position of Commander First Infantry Brigade, he staged a coup with support from Colonels Anthony Hugh Selormey, Kodzo Barnabas Agbo and Kwame Baah on January 13, 1972.
The insurrection culminated in toppling the Progress Party regime led by Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia. Under his tenure as Head of State, Ghana developed the metric system of measurement and changed from left to right hand drive on August 4, 1974.
Health, Education and Infrastructure were given utmost priority. The country also became self-sufficient in food production under the Operation Feed Yourself policy. A fair and balanced ruler, he was promoted to the rank of General on October 9, 1975 but toppled in a palace coup led by Lieutenant-General Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo.
The trim broad shouldered man was tearfully executed by firing squad on June 26, 1979 along with Major-General Edward Kwaku Utuka. He is survived by Faustina Acheampong nee Aboagye and seven children.