He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Ghana army in 1963.[1] He rose through the ranks after attending courses in Ghana and the United Kingdom.
Politicsedit
After the overthrow of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government on January 13, 1972, the then Major Felli became a member of the ruling National Redemption Council led by General (then Colonel) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. He was appointed the Commissioner for the Works and Housing Ministry in the new government. He later also held the portfolios of the Trade and Industry Ministry and the Finance and Economic Planning Ministry respectively. Colonel (then Major) Roger Felli was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1975.[2] He held this position till the coup d'état of June 4, 1979 which brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) led by Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings to power.
Executionedit
Colonel Roger Felli was one of six senior military officers who had previously served in government, executed by firing squad at the Teshie Military Range at Teshie, at the outskirts of Accra.[3] The executions were ordered by the AFRC and carried out on June 26, 1979. The other officers executed with him were two former heads of state of Ghana, Gen Fred Akuffo and Lt Gen Akwasi Afrifa and three other military officers, namely Air Vice Marshal Boakye, Maj. Gen R.E.A. Kotei and Rear Admiral Joy Amedume.[3] They were buried in unmarked graves at Adoagyiri near Nsawam[1] in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Reburial at Navrongoedit
On December 27, 2001, the remains of Col. Roger Felli, along with the remains of the five executed with him and two executed a few days earlier were handed over to their families at a ceremony at the Garrison Methodist and Presbyterian Church in Accra.[1] Raphael Felli, a US-based attorney and nephew of Colonel Felli, is reported to have said "We're very upset, very angry, ... But our success is our revenge."[4] His younger brother, Joe Felli, is reported to have demanded in a tribute, that relatives and sympathisers had the right to know what happened before his brother and the other seven senior officers brother were executed.[1] He is also reported to have said that the spirit behind the Ghana's motto "Freedom and Justice" was still a guiding principle in the conduct of the nation's domestic affairs. He is reported to have said in addition that;
"We have the right to know what happened, as a nation, we must ensure that never again will we allow such acts and utter disrespect for the sanctity of life to recur in our country." He said the only lasting legacy that Ghanaians could bequeath to the memory of Roger Felli and his colleagues was to rededicate and recommit our selves "to the defence of, the rule of law, the defence of our constitution, even at the peril of our lives."[1]
He was reburied at Navrongo, his hometown, after traditional and Catholic rites.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefg"Veep leads government delegation to Felli's burial". General News of Saturday, 29 December 2001. Ghana Home Page. 29 December 2001. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
^B. Schemmel. "Foreign ministers E-K - Ghana". Lists of heads of state of government and ministers of various countries. Rulers.org. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
^ ab(PDF). THE National Reconciliation Commission Report. Ghana government. October 2004. p. 180. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-16. Retrieved 2007-04-12. The six condemned senior military officers were led to the stakes and the ropes tied across their chest and around their legs. First was Gen Akuffo, then Gen Bob Kotei, Gen Afrifa, Air Vice-Marshal Yaw Boakye, Col Roger Felli and last, towards the sea, Rear-Admiral Joy Amedume.
^"Ghana reburies past in quest for reconciliation". General News of Friday, 28 December 2001. Ghana Home Page. 28 December 2001. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
roger, joseph, felli, colonel, roger, joseph, atogetipoli, felli, 1941, june, 1979, soldier, politician, once, foreign, minister, ghana, 18th, minister, foreign, affairs, ghana, office, 1975, june, 1979presidentkutu, acheampongpreceded, bykwame, baahsucceeded,. Colonel Roger Joseph Atogetipoli Felli May 2 1941 June 26 1979 was a soldier and politician who was once the foreign minister of Ghana Roger Joseph Felli18th Minister for Foreign Affairs Ghana In office 1975 June 1979PresidentKutu AcheampongPreceded byKwame BaahSucceeded byGloria Amon NikoiPersonal detailsBorn 1941 05 02 May 2 1941NavrongoDiedJune 26 1979 1979 06 26 aged 38 AccraResting placeNavrongoNationalityGhanaianProfessionSoldier PoliticianMilitary serviceAllegianceGhanaBranch serviceGhana ArmyYears of service1963 1979RankColonel Roger Felli was born at Navrongo 1 the capital of the Kassena Nankana District in the Upper East Region of Ghana Contents 1 Military 2 Politics 3 Execution 4 Reburial at Navrongo 5 References 6 See alsoMilitary editHe was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Ghana army in 1963 1 He rose through the ranks after attending courses in Ghana and the United Kingdom Politics editAfter the overthrow of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia s Progress Party government on January 13 1972 the then Major Felli became a member of the ruling National Redemption Council led by General then Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong He was appointed the Commissioner for the Works and Housing Ministry in the new government He later also held the portfolios of the Trade and Industry Ministry and the Finance and Economic Planning Ministry respectively Colonel then Major Roger Felli was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1975 2 He held this position till the coup d etat of June 4 1979 which brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council AFRC led by Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings to power Execution editColonel Roger Felli was one of six senior military officers who had previously served in government executed by firing squad at the Teshie Military Range at Teshie at the outskirts of Accra 3 The executions were ordered by the AFRC and carried out on June 26 1979 The other officers executed with him were two former heads of state of Ghana Gen Fred Akuffo and Lt Gen Akwasi Afrifa and three other military officers namely Air Vice Marshal Boakye Maj Gen R E A Kotei and Rear Admiral Joy Amedume 3 They were buried in unmarked graves at Adoagyiri near Nsawam 1 in the Eastern Region of Ghana Reburial at Navrongo editOn December 27 2001 the remains of Col Roger Felli along with the remains of the five executed with him and two executed a few days earlier were handed over to their families at a ceremony at the Garrison Methodist and Presbyterian Church in Accra 1 Raphael Felli a US based attorney and nephew of Colonel Felli is reported to have said We re very upset very angry But our success is our revenge 4 His younger brother Joe Felli is reported to have demanded in a tribute that relatives and sympathisers had the right to know what happened before his brother and the other seven senior officers brother were executed 1 He is also reported to have said that the spirit behind the Ghana s motto Freedom and Justice was still a guiding principle in the conduct of the nation s domestic affairs He is reported to have said in addition that We have the right to know what happened as a nation we must ensure that never again will we allow such acts and utter disrespect for the sanctity of life to recur in our country He said the only lasting legacy that Ghanaians could bequeath to the memory of Roger Felli and his colleagues was to rededicate and recommit our selves to the defence of the rule of law the defence of our constitution even at the peril of our lives 1 He was reburied at Navrongo his hometown after traditional and Catholic rites 1 References edit a b c d e f g Veep leads government delegation to Felli s burial General News of Saturday 29 December 2001 Ghana Home Page 29 December 2001 Retrieved 2007 04 12 B Schemmel Foreign ministers E K Ghana Lists of heads of state of government and ministers of various countries Rulers org Retrieved 2007 04 12 a b CHAPTER 6 REVIEW OF PETITIONS E 4TH JUNE 1979 23RD SEPTEMBER 1979 AFRC REGIME PDF THE National Reconciliation Commission Report Ghana government October 2004 p 180 Archived from the original PDF on 2006 10 16 Retrieved 2007 04 12 The six condemned senior military officers were led to the stakes and the ropes tied across their chest and around their legs First was Gen Akuffo then Gen Bob Kotei Gen Afrifa Air Vice Marshal Yaw Boakye Col Roger Felli and last towards the sea Rear Admiral Joy Amedume Ghana reburies past in quest for reconciliation General News of Friday 28 December 2001 Ghana Home Page 28 December 2001 Retrieved 2007 04 12 See also editNational Redemption Council Supreme Military Council Ghana Minister for Foreign Affairs Ghana Political offices Preceded byS W Awuku DarkoMinister for Works Minister for Works and Housing1972 Succeeded byColonel Victor Coker Appiah Preceded byDr William Godson Bruce KonuahMinister for Housing Preceded by Minister for Trade and Industry1972 1975 Succeeded byColonel K E QuarshieMinister for Trade and Tourism Preceded by Minister for Finance and Economic Planning1years Succeeded by Preceded byCol Kwame Baah Foreign Minister1975 1979 Succeeded byGloria Amon Nikoi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roger Joseph Felli amp oldid 1215224659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
