 In 1983 he left the university to become the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and Head of State of Ghana, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings.Later in 1983 he was appointed as a Member of the National Defence Committee (the Principal Political Organ of the PNDC) and its Standing Committee.In this position, Mr. Tanoh was responsible for the Projects and Programs of a two million strong national, political and economic organization existing in all communities in Ghana responsible for primary health care, community shops and local infrastructure projects among the many developmental activities initiated during this period.