K. A. Gbedema, Minister of Finance, Kojo Botsio B.A., Dip., Ed. (Oxon),
Minister of Agriculture, late Sir E. O. Asafu-Adjaye, Kt., B.A., LL.B., Minister
of Local Government, F. A. Jantuah, LL.B., Barrister-at-Law, Minister of
Agriculture, K. O. Thompson, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, all of the
Nkrumah Regime. Lt.-Gen. A. A. Afrifa, CV, DSO., Hen. LL.D., Chairman of the
erstwhile, Presidential Commission: the late Dr. A. A. Y. Kyerematen, M.A.,
B.Litt., D. Phil., (Oxon), Commissioner for Local Government, Matthew Poku,
Barrister-at-Law, Commissioner for Transport and Communications, and David Andoh
B.A., LL.B., Commissioner for Lands and Mineral Resources, all in the National
Liberation Council (NLC) regime; Dr. T.A. Aboagye, LL.M. (Lond) Ph.D.. (Cantab )
Ministerial Secretary, Ministry of Defence; S. K. C. Osei-Baidoo, Ministerial
Secretary. Ministry of Rural Development both of the Busia regime; Dr. R. K. A.
Gardiner, M.A. (Cantab ), B.Sc., Econ. (Lond), Commissioner for Economic
Planning; E. N. Moore, LL.B. (Lond) L.L.B. (Hull) Commissioner for Justice and
Attorney-General; Major Kwame Asante, Commissioner for Transport and
Communications, Col. F. G. Bernasko, B.Sc., LL.B., Commissioner for Cocoa
Affairs; Major M. Ofori-Akuamoah, Regional Commissioner for Upper Region, H. S.
Annancy, LL.B., Regional Commissioner for the Eastern Region, all of the Supreme
Military Council (SMC) regime. Also K. Budu-Acquah, Deputy Minister, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and J. E. Hagan, Regional Commissioner for Central Region both
in the government of the First Republic.
Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II, Asantehene and President of the National House of
Chiefs; Nana Sir Tsibu Darku IX, Kt., O.B.E., Hon. D.C.L, Omanhene of Assin
Attandaso, Dr. I. B. Asafu - Adjaye and Nene Azzu Mate Kole, OBE., MV., Konor of
Manya Krobo, Odumase, all members of the erstwhile Governor's Executive Council.
Old Boys who have served as Ghana Ambassadors and High Commissioners include,
T. M. Kodwo-Mercer, B. Com. (Lond) first Ghana Commissioner to Britain, James
Mercer, Barrister-at-Law, (now Chairman of the Ghana/Ivory Coast Border
Commission.) Ghana Ambassador to China and Israel. J. Owusu-Ansah M.A. (Oxon)
Dip.Ed. (Nigeria, Uganda, Libya and USSR) B. Spio-Garbah, B.A. (Lond), one-time
Deputy Director of Broadcasting, (Tunisia and Czechoslovakia) K. D. Gwira,
Barristerat-Law, (Sierra Leone, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria) H. A. H. S. Grant
(Liberia and Geneva) S. E. Quarm, B.A. (USA) D. E. K. Doe, LL.B.,
Barrister-at-Law (West Germany and Nigeria), A. W. Ephson, (Libya) H. V. H.
Sekyi, B.A. (Lond) and (Cantab) the United Kingdom and Ireland Australia, Italy
and the United Nations, C. C. Lokko, B.A., (Ivory Coast and Iran.) The late Sir
Edward O. Asafu-Adjaye, Kt., B.A.; LL. B., Barrister-at-Law, was the first Ghana
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Mr. Justices P. E. N. K. Archer, LL. B., Chairman of the Law Reform
Commission, R. J. Hayfron-Benjamin, M.V., LL.B., (now Chief Justice of Botswana)
and Enoch K. Edusei, (Jnr.) LL.B., B.C.L., (Oxon), Judges of Appeal. C. E. H.
Coussey, J. H. Griffiths-Randolph, P. F. Sarkodee, LL. B., and G.D. Hayfron,
High Court Judges; Henry Prempeh, LL.B., I. R. Aboagye, LL.B., and K. L. Boison,
LL.B., all former High Court Judges.
K. Gyeke-Dako, B.A., LL.B., Dip., International Law, Director of Public
Prosecutions, and K. A. Sekyi, LL.B, Chief State Attonery, H. A. Hayfron-Benjamin,
LL.B., K, A. Kaleo-Bioh, B.A., (Law) LL.B., Principal State Attorneys S.Y.
Bimpong-Buta. LL.B., Council for Law Reporting - Andrews Hayford, Administrative
Secretary, Grade II Courts, E. Sagoe-Jeffrey, former Supreme Court Registrar.
B. J. da Rocha, LL.B., General Secretary of the erstwhile Progress Party and
now of the Popular Front Party (P. F. P.), J. V. M. Ntow, LL.B., one-time
District Magistrate; T. A. Totoe, LL.B., Jonathan Arthur, Chas M. Cann; E.
Brite-Gaisie, LL.B., E. B. Sekyi-Hughes, B.A., LL.B., S. H. Annancy, LL.B.,
former Chairman of' Board of Directors of the Ghana Tourist Board and later
Regional Commissioner for Eastern Region, J. K. F. Adadevoh, LL.B., past
President of Ghana Bar Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Railway and Port Authority; D. de Graft Aidoo (Jnr) B.A.(Oxon) LL.M.,(Lond) Dr.
T.A. Aboagye, LL.M., (Lond) Ph.D, (Cantab).
Dr. Mark Davy-Hayford, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.G.P., (Edin) L.R.F.P.S. (Glas) D.T.M.
and H., (medical practitioner, poet and writer) Dr. P. M. J. Phillips, M.R.C.S.,
L.R.C.P., D.P.H., former Deputy Director of Medical Services; Prof. B. Y. A.
Andoh, B.Sc., M.D., Dr. ner. nat. (Heidel) Prof. J. O. M. Pobee, M.B., B.S..
M.R.C.S., Dr. K. O. Bentsi-Enchill, M.D., F.R.C.S., D.O., (Eye-specialist) Dr.
A. R. Sarbah-Yalley, B.Sc., M.B., B.S., M.R.C.O.G., all of the Ghana Medical
School; Dr. L. K. A. Derban, M.B., Ch.B.. D.P.H., D.I.H., D.T.M. and H., Chief
Medical Officer, Volta River Authority (VRA) Dr. N. A. de Heer,. M.B., B.S.,
M.R.C.S., D.T.M and H. D.P.H., Dip. Nutr., etc. Executive-Director West African
Health Community, Yaba, Nigeria; Dr. H. Mercer-Richetts, M.B., Ch.B., (Edin) Dr.
Eric S. Arthur, M. B., B.S., both private medical practitioners; Dr. K. A.
Boison, L.D.S., Dental Surgeon, Dr. J. B. Esuman-Gwira, M.B., Ch.B., D.O.,
(Lond) Eye specialist, Ministry of Health.
Martin S. Donkoh, M.P.S., M.I.-Pharm., M., M.Inst., Pkg., (UK)
Pharmaceutical,/Production Director, J. L. Morrison Sans and Jones. (Ghana)
Limited, J. Pearce-Biney, B.Pharm., (Glas) Ph.C., M.P.S., M.I. Pharm-M.,
Pharmacy Merchandise Comptroller, Kingsway Stores Division of U.A.C. (Ghana)
Limited, and Director-Secretary of Ghana branch of Pharmacy Management
International; T. O. Hutton-Mills, Ph.C., M.P.S., M.I. Pharm-M., Pharmacy Sales
Manager, Kingsway Stores; T. E. C. Sagoe, Ph.C., M.P.S., M.I.Pharm. M., Managing
Director, Netherlands African Manufacturing Company Limited (NAMCO) a
pharmaceutical company.
The Civil Service is perhaps, the main field in which majority of the Old
Santaclausians are serving in various capacities. The service has, for years,
afforded Old Santaclausians not only the opportunity for gainful employment but
also loyal and dedicated service to the country. In other words, the civil
service has enabled many an Old Santaclausian to bring into full play his latent
endowments for the benefit of the country, in much the same way as those in the
other fields of activity.
Old Santaclausians serving in various positions of responsibility in the
civil service are too numerous to mention here. It suffices to name a few, to
represent, in some way, the general distribution: E. A. B. Mayne, B.A., Senior
Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health and Secretary to the Constitutional
Drafting Commission and Senior Civil Servants' Representative at the Constituent
Assembly, S. E. Quarm, B.A., Senior Principal Secretary, and Head of the
Political Department, J. H. Sackey, B.A., and J. L. M. Amissah, B.A., both
Principal Secretaries, all of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, B. K. Armah,
B.A., Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Major W. C. Stanley Pierre,
A.M.B.I.M., Director, Department of Rural Development; E. A. Odoi, F.C.LS. Chief
Commercial Officer, Ministry of Trade, Ben Brookman, Principal, Inspector, Lands
Department, A. Owusu -Agyemang, Counsellor, Ghana High Commission, Nairobi,
Kenya, among others. Those in other public institutions include Dr. Charles Van-Dyck,
B.Litt., D.Phil., (Oxon) Head of the Economic Monitoring Unit, C.O. Lamptey, LLB.
Inspector-General of Police, Ransford Osei, M.Sc., Research Fellow, Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) G. A. Hammond, B.A., Principal
Assistant Registrar, West African Examinations Council.
Many other prominent Old Santaclausians have retired from the Civil Service
after giving many years of loyal and faithful service to the country. Of these,
the following deserve mention: S. C. A. Chinery, MV. M. A., former Deputy Head
of the Civil Service, K.B. Ayensu, M.A., (Oxon), former Clerk of the National
Assembly, E.R.T. Madjitey, first Ghanaian Commissioner of Police and one-time
Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, and National President of the
Association of Retired Superior Police Officers (ARSPO.), E, R. Hayford, B.Sc..
(Econ), M.P.A., (Principal Secretary. Ministry of Industries). C. W. O.
Sackeyfio, B.A., (Principal Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing) S.E.
Grant, B.Sc., (Econ) (Eastern Regional Chief Administrative Officer) K. A. Sagoe,
F.R.I.C.S., (Chief Lands Officer, new Adviser to the Stool Lands Boundary
Settlement Commission) H. E. Thompson, D.I.C.T.A., (Chief Animal Husbandry
Officer) E. B. A. Essuman, (Chief Labour Officer) J. M. Akita M.A., (Cantab)
(Chief Government Archivist) Albert Hammond, B.A.; Dip Ed.,
(Executive-Secretary, Arts Council of Ghana and lately Specialist in Culture,
Ministry of Education and Culture) J. C. Amuah (Director of Social Welfare and
Community Development) S. E. Eshun, M.A., LL.B., Barrister-at-Law (Principal
State Attorney, Attorney- General's Department) Robert Tachie-Menson (Head of
Arts and Visual Aids, Department of Social Welfare and Community Development).
The Rt. Revd. I.S.M. LeMaire, GM., D.D., Bishop of Accra, the Rt. Revd. J. B.
Arthur, D.Th., Bishop of Kumasi, Rt. Revd. (Major) A. K: Nelson (retired
Assistant Bishop of Accra) the Venerables C. H. Elliott, Archdeacon Emeritus of
Sekondi, H. Tekyi-Mensah, L.Th., former Archdeacon of Sunyani, K. P. Sakyiama,
former Archdeacon of Cape Coast Edmund Yeboah, M.A., B.D., A.K.C. Archdeacon of
Cape Coast, (Lt.-Col.) J. K. Dadson, M.A., Archdeacon of Accra and
Chaplain-General of the Ghana Armed Forces; A. Dawson-Amoah, Archdeacon of
Koforidua; Revd. Canon Leo Ankrah, B.Sc. (Econ) B.Th., former Presentor, Holy
Trinity Cathedral and Diocesan Accountant, now Headmaster of Achimota School,
all of the Anglican Church of Ghana. The Revd. J. Aggrey-Smith M.A., B.D.,
Bishop's Deputy, A.M.E. Zion Church and the Revd. J. S. Hutchful, Superintendent
Minister in charge, Methodist Church, Ho district.
Dr. C. A. Ackah, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.G.S., first Ghanaian Principal University
College of Cape Coast; Revd. Dr. A.W.E. Appiah, B.A., founder, Aggrey Memorial
Grammar School, now Aggrey Memorial Secondary School, Cape Coast. Professors W.
E. Abraham, M. A. B.Phil. (Oxon) former Pro-Vice Chancellor and head of the
Department of Philosophy and Ebenezer Laing, B.Sc., Ph.D., Pro-Vice Chancellor
and Head of the Department of Botany, E. A. Edzii, B A., Registrar all of the
University of Ghana, K. O. Hagan, B.Litt., (Oxon) former Director, Institute of
Adult Education, University of Ghana, C. K. Sam-Amavih, former General Manager,
Anglican Education Unit now Ghana representative of Rapid Results College,
London.
W. F. Coleman, B.Sc. (Eng) D.E., C.Eng., F.LE.E., F.Ch.I.E., first Ghanaian
Director-General of Broadcasting; C. K. Annan, B.Sc., (Eng) D.I.C., F.I.C.E.,
M.I.W.E., F.Ch.I.E., former Managing Director and E. Adjei-Kufuor, B.Sc. (Civil)
M.I.C.E., M.I.P.H.E., M.I.H.E., A.M.I.Mn. E., M.Gh.I.E. both of the Ghana Water
and Sewerage Corporation, E. Q. Hayfron-Acquah. B.Sc., (Eng) C. Eng. F.Gh.I.E.
M.I.E.E., first Ghanaian Managing Director and K. A. Duker B.Sc. (Eng), M.I.E.E.,
F.Gh.I.E., Managing Director, both of the Electricity Corporation of Ghana;
Peter Bawuah, B.Sc. (Eng) M.E.I.C. etc. Director of Engineering (ITS) J. E.
Sampson-Davis, B.Sc., (Eng) M.Gh.I.E. Deputy Director (System Planning) J.
Aggrey-Mensah B.Sc., (Hons Eng) M.Gh.I.E., Chief Engineer, all of the Posts and
Telecommunications Corporation, A. O. El-Alawa, B.Sc., (Eng) F.Gh. I. E., Accra
City Engineer, H. M. Hemans-Mensah, Grad. I.E.E., Br. I.R.E., Director of Film
Production (Special Project) Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.
It is interesting to recall in this connection; that when Station ZOY (the
forerunner of Radio Ghana) was brought into service in 1939; a young engineering
technician, and an Old Santaclausian, Jonathan Dalrymple-Hayfron, popularly
known as Kwesi Kra Afuna (now deceased) is recorded as having played a leading,
pioneering role in establishing the corporation on an efficient working basis.
Incidentally, Kra Afuna was one of the fine scholars of the School and his
exploits as a long distance runner are still recounted by his contemporaries,
Kwesi the son of Mrs. Fanny Dalrymple-Hayfron, GM. a social worker of repute
(now a nonagenarian) who was for many years a member of the College Board of
Governors.
Nana Fredua Mensah, G.M., F.C.I..T., N.G.I.M., Managing-Director, Omnibus
Services Authority, Capt. J. H. Tachie-Menson, F.C.I.T., M.I.N.,
Managing-Director, Black Star Line; M. K. Aifa, M.C.I.T., D.M.S., General
Manager, C. W. Tachie-Menson, A.M.I. M.E., Chief Engineer and F.K. Anyim,
Traffic Manager, all of the State Transport Corporation, Capt. Powis Spenser,
Pilot, Ghana Airways.
H.E. Assan, Senior Adviser to the Board of Governors, Bank of Ghana, A. O.
Kumi, former Senior Manager, Ghana Commercial Bank; S. F. F. Longdon, General
Manager, Gambia Insurance Company, Banjul, The Gambia, first Secretary-General
of the West African Insurance Consultative Association (W.A.I.C.A.) S. Lawton
Ackah-Yensu, Chief Manager, (Adm) and E. J. Blankson, Barrister-at-Law, Marine
Claims Manager, both of the State Insurance Corporation.
B. Crosby-Davis, Director of State Revenue, Ministry of Finance; K. E. Woode,
F.C.C.A., C.A., A.T.I.I., S. K. B. Taylor, A.C.C.A. F.C.A., C.A., J. S. Haizel,
A.C.C.A., A. A. Adjei, A.C.C.A., Deputy Commissioner, Department of Income Tax,
I. D. Dickson, A.C.C.A., Chief Personnel Manager, State Transport Corporation E.
A. Odoi, F.C.I..S., Chief Commercial Officer, Ministry of Trade, J. B. H.
Coleman, C. J. Otoo, William Brown, Directors of Audit, Auditor-General's
Department Edward E. Osei, A.C.I.S., Head of Administration, National Vocational
Training Centre.
David Andoh, B.A., LLB., Chairman, U.A.C. (Ghana) Limited, W. C. Tandoh,
Executive Chairman, West Coast Group of Companies, Tema, LB. Phillips,
Executive-Director, Development Consortium (Ghana) Limited, Commander Kwabena
Addo, former Chief Executive and H. A. Mould, M.A., F.R.E.E., Deputy Chief
Executive (Adm) both of Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board, E. Hornsby-Odoi, B.A.,
(Arch) F.R. T.P.I. (Britain) Managing Director, Tema Development Corporation, C.
A. Christian, F.R.M.S., Dip. Agri., former Chemicals Director, now Personal
Adviser to the Managing Director, Shell Ghana Limited, F. Bannerman-Menson,
Barrister-at-Law, Executive Director, Ghana Employers Association, N.C.A.
Thompson, Business Executive, Lt. Col. E. K. T. Donkor (rtd) General Sales
Manager, Firestone (Ghana) Limited, Col. M. B. Sanni-Thomas (rtd.), former
Managing Director and R.H.F. Longdon, M.H.G.I.M.A., F.R.S.H., M. Inst.B.B.,
Group Food and Beverage, Manager, both, of the State Hotels Corporation, J. W.
Ampiah-Kuofie former Cape Coast Town Clerk, R. A. Bannerman, Import/Procurement
Manager, G.C.M.T., honorary National Secretary of A.O.B.A. Cyprian Nkansah and
E. K. Osei are successful businessmen and General Contractors of wide
experience.
Akwasi Adu, A.C.C.A., Managing Director, Ghana Graphic Company Publishers of
the `Daily Graphic' and the `Mirror'; Mark Botsio, Managing Director, Ringway
Press Limited, Publishers of the "Business Weekly' and Economic Review"; Kwesi
Sam-Woode, Managing Director, Afram Publications (Ghana) Limited publishers of
educational books, and "Student World", an educational magazine for students and
teachers. Adisadel freelance journalists, broadcasters and writers include W. E.
Kwateng, Editor "Weekly Spectator". Dr. Kofi Frimpong, Ph.D. Chief Public
Relations Manager, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Kojo
Yankah, B.A. (Hons) Dip. Journ., (Legon) Deputy Public Relations Manager, Ghana
Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC).
As already observed, Old Santaclausians are almost always in the vanguard of
national affairs. It is therefore no surprise that now that the country is at
the threshold of the Third Republic many of them are re-asserting their
political and constitutional rights. In the recent District Council elections,
not a few Old Santaclausians were elected in many constituencies. Several of
them became members of the Constituent Assembly, and contributed meaningfully to
the drawing up of a suitable new Constitution for Ghana. Remarkably, some of the
Old Boys represented certain important national associations and professional
bodies. For instance, E. A. B. Mayne, who was Secretary to the Draft
Constitutional Commission later represented the Ghana Senior Civil Servants'
Association; Jonathan Arthur, the Ghana Bar Association and Martin S. Donkor,
the Ghana Pharmaceutical Society. E.R.T. Madjitey was S.M.C. nominee while Dr.
T.K. Aboagye represented the Kumasi District Council among others. Many Old Boys
also stood for the Parliamentary and Presidential elections on June 18th. 1979.
Like all true democrats, Santaclausians usually chafe under tyranny,
injustice and incompetence in high places and patriotic as they tend to be, they
consider it within their inalienable right and duty as enlightened citizens of
the State to strive and help promote true freedom and justice in the country,
regardless of the risk to themselves. There are crucial examples of how some Old
Santaclausians have come forward to take the lead in the nick of time and in
co-operation with like-minded men, saved the country from tyranny, injustice and
oppression.
Against this background, it is a healthy sign that augurs well for the
country that the political consciousness of many an Old Santaclausian has been
re-awakened to the extent that Col. Frank Bernasko, (rtd.) boldly took the
initiative to demonstrate his honesty and sense of national duty by calling for,
and actually submitting himself to, a probe of his assets by the Sowah Assets
Investigations Commission set up for this purpose. As Presidential candidate, he
is now leading a political party, the Action Congress Party (ACP), committed to
giving Ghana a `clean' government with agricultural development as its basic
field of action if elected to power. Another Old Santaclausian, B.J. da Rocha,
is also directing operations as the General Secretary of the Popular Front Party
(PFP), a party that similarly seeks not only to give practical meaning to the
essence of democracy but also rural development in Ghana.
