Major General Charles Mohammed Barwah was a distinguished Ghanaian soldier and the Chief of Army Staff at the end of Ghana’s First Republic. Born on 13 April 1929 in Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Barwah came from a military family his father was a sergeant in the army.
Barwah joined the Gold Coast Regiment in 1947 at just 18 years old. By 1953 he had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was selected as the first native cadet officer from the Gold Coast to train at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. At Sandhurst, he excelled academically and physically, earning the Overseas Cadet Prize and distinction among his peers.
After returning to Ghana, Barwah’s career progressed rapidly. He was known not only for his military skill but also for his emphasis on education, setting up programs for soldiers and their families. By July 1965, he had risen to the rank of Major General and was appointed Chief of Army Staff making him the highest-ranking army officer present when national events shifted dramatically.
On 24 February 1966, while President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was abroad, a military coup Operation Cold Chop was launched by officers including Colonel Emmanuel K. Kotoka and Major Akwasi Afrifa. Barwah was confronted at his residence early that morning and refused to support or join the coup plotters, remaining fiercely loyal to the constitutional government.
Because of this loyalty, Barwah was shot and killed along with seven soldiers on guard duty. His stance made him the only high-ranking officer killed during the coup a stark contrast to the otherwise relatively bloodless takeover that deposed Nkrumah and ushered in the National Liberation Council (NLC).
Barwah was also a family man, with eight children six sons and two daughters. He was a devout Muslim and, at the time of his death, was reading the diaries of Robert Baden-Powell, showing his wide interests beyond military life.
Today, his legacy lives on in the Barwah Barracks in Tamale, named in his honour a reminder of his commitment to duty, integrity, and loyalty to Ghana’s constitutional order.
Major General Charles Barwah stands in Ghana’s history not just as a soldier, but as a symbol of principle and service the officer who chose loyalty over power and paid the ultimate price. 
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