Robert Kotei
| Robert Kotei | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Supreme Military Council | |
|
In office 1976 – June 4, 1979 |
|
| President |
Fred Akuffo (Head of state) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1935 |
| Died | June 26, 1979 Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality |
 Ghanaian |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Kotei |
| Relations | James Kotei |
| Children | 9 |
| Profession | Soldier |
| Religion | Christian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ghana |
| Service/branch | Ghana army |
| Years of service | ? - 1979 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands |
Chief of Defence Staff Chief of Army Staff |
Major General Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei (1935 – 26 June 1979) was a soldier, politician and track and field athlete. He was once the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and also a member of the Supreme Military Council which ruled Ghana between 1975 and 1979. He was executed in 1979, following a military coup. He also held the Ghanaian high jump record for many years.
Robert Kotei competed for Ghana at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Cardiff, Wales. He was the only Ghanaian to win a medal at the games. He won the bronze medal in the high jump event with a jump of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) He won the Men's AAA Championships in 1960. He subsequently set the Ghana High Jump record in London on 16 July 1960. This record stood for 36 years until 1996. He also became a member of the Ghana Olympic and Commonwealth Games Committee in 1973.
Robert Kotei (then a Colonel), was the Commander of the First Infantry Brigade of the Ghana army in the early 1970s. He was instrumental in foiling a coup plot to unseat the then ruling National Redemption Council (NRC) government in 1973. He became the Ghana army commander in April 1976. Two years later, he was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He retired from the army in 1979.
Kotei was appointed commissioner (minister) for Information by the NRC military government led by General Acheampong. He also worked as the commissioner for Housing. He became a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) government formed on 9 October 1975. This replaced the NRC. His appointment was because he was the incumbent army commander. He became Chief of Defense Staff in 1978, following the palace coup that replaced General Acheampong with Lt. General Fred Akuffo.
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