On Monday 4th day of June, 1979 the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council assumed

the reins of government of the Republic of Ghana hitherto exercised by the Supreme
Military Council in the interest of the people of Ghana and whereas it is expedient
that due provision must be made for the administration and for the maintenance of
law and order now therefore this proclamation is made which shall take effect from
the 4th day of June, 1979.
Section 1: The AFRC is hereby established and shall consist of the persons named in
the schedule with a chairman as the Flt. Lt. Gen. Jerry-John Rawlings.
Section 2: The Second Republican Constitution which had been suspended shall
continue to be suspended.
Section 3: The Revolutionary Council had the power to make and issue decrees
which shall have the force of law in the country. Enactments or rule of law in force
before that date were to be continued in force and any such enactment could be
amended, revoked, repealed or suspended by decree of the Revolutionary Council.
Where any enactment or rule of law in conflict with a provision of a decree of the
Revolutionary Council. (as found in the NRC Proclamation.) Any decree of the
Revolutionary Council could be amended or revoked or suspended by another
decree of the Revolutionary Council. The exercise of the power to make a decree if
not signified by all the members of the Revolutionary Council may be signified by
the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. Every decree made shall be published in
the Gazette.(same rules as found before). They shall be numbered from the
commencement of the Proclamation in accordance with the order of
publication.all those rules mentioned before. A decree duly made in accordance
with the provisions of this Proclamation shall be prima facie evidence of the due
making thereof.
Section 4: All courts in existence before the said date shgall continue in force with
the same powers, duties, functions and composition as before. The Rules of Court
Committee in existence before that date were also continued in force with the same
powers, duties and functions as before. All judges and every other person holding a
post.(just like before).
Section 6: The Public Services Commission and the Judicial Council were also
continued in force subject to any necessary modifications.
Section 8: The office of Attorney-General was continued in existenc and was to be
one appointed by the Revolutionary Council with the same functions as found in the
NRC Proclamation.
Section 11: Powers of mercy the same as found in the NLC Proclamation.
Section 14: The bodies known as the SMC and the NRC KNOWN IMMEDIATELY
BEFORE THE Proclamation were dissolved and all enactments by which they were

established or under which they existed were repealed. The oaths of the Chairman
or member of the NRC and Chairman?Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council
found in the first schedule of the Oaths Decree, 1972 were repealed. All references
to the SMC or NRC found in any enactments which have been continued in force
shall be deemed to be references to the Revolutionary Council. Commissioner in
those enactments were to refer to such person as the Revolutionary COUNCIL MAY
DIRECT. The Revolutionary Council reserved the right to amend, revoke or suspend
the Proclamation or any provision thereof.