Joseph Arthur Ankrah was a Ghanaian army general who was head of state of Ghana from 1966 to 1969 as Chairman of the National Liberation Council. He was Ghana's first military head of state. Ankrah also served as Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity from 24 February 1966 to 5 November 1966. Previously, Ankrah was appointed the first commander of the Ghana Army in 1961.