Robert Addo-Fening | |
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Born | Robert Addo-Fening 7 March 1935 |
Nationality | Ghanaian |
Occupation | Historian |
Academic background | |
Education | Accra Academy Kumasi College of Technology |
Alma mater | |
Academic work | |
Institutions |
Robert Yaw Addo Fening (born 1935) is a Ghanaian historian who has made major contributions in documenting the history of Akyem Abuakwa and of Ghana. He has been accorded the award of Okyeman Kanea in recognition of his historical works. [1] For several years he taught at the University of Ghana. [2] [3]
Addo-Fening was born on 7 March 1935 at Osino in Akyem Abuakwa. He had his elementary education at Presbyterian schools in Osino and Akyem-Asafo from 1941 to 1949,and went on to Accra Academy on an Akyem Abuakwa State Scholarship for the Cambridge School Certificate obtained in 1953. He studied at the Kumase College of Technology on a Post-Secondary Teacher Training Course from 1954 to 1955. On qualifying,he was posted to be a teacher at Atibie near Mpraeso,Kwahu. In his second year at his teaching post,he enrolled with Wolsey Hall,Oxford for the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) received in 1957. [4] [5]
In October 1959,he entered the University of Ghana to read history. Addo-Fening's lecturers included Albert Adu Boahen. [6] Addo-Fening studied as a Commonwealth Scholar at the Australian National University in Canberra from 1965 to 1967 for his M.A. in History. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Ghana in 1980.
Addo-Fening joined the faculty of University of Ghana in 1967. His initial research interest and lectures did not focus on African history. He wrote on history aspects such as Indian philosophical thought as well as British involvement in India. [7] Addo-Fening made a switch to writing about African history. He dealt with history pertaining to modern Ghana and in particular a section within it,the Akyem people and their traditional method of governance. He detailed the lives of its rulers especially Nana Sir Ofori Atta 1,King of Akyem Abuakwa and the development and politics found within the states of Akyem [8] He rose through the ranks to be a professor of history at the University of Ghana in 1994 and head of the history department at the university the following year. [3]
His book,Akyem Abuakwa,1700-1943:From Ofori Panin to Sir Ofori-Atta 1 which was published in 1997 by the History Department of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology,was relaunched as part of the ceremony marking the 75th Anniversary of the passing away of Okyenhene,Ofori Atta I in 2018. The relaunch was performed by the President of the Ghana,Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,in a ceremony chaired by the Okyenhene,Amoatia Ofori-Panin II. [9]
Some of his publications and contributions include:
He was a Fulbright Hays Scholar and researcher at the University of California at San Diego from 1977 to 1978 and a Fulbright Scholar-in-residence at the North Carolina A&T State University at Greensboro,North Carolina from 1992 to 1993.
In 1973 Addo-Fening became Okyeame (linguist) of the Royal Stool of Adadientam. In 1978,the Chief of Adadientam passed on and Addo-Fening no longer served in this position. [3]
He was a member of the Economic Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa Development Society which was under the chairmanship of William Ofori-Atta. [10]
Addo-Fening was chairman of the board of directors of Ghana Post during the presidential administration of John Kufuor from 2001 to 2008. [11]
Addo-Fening has been Director of the Intra-National project on Chieftaincy,Governance and Development based in Accra. [3]
Addo-Fening has been made a Fellow of the Historical Society of Ghana and has served in the position of Honorary Secretary of the Society. He was also Editor of its main journal,Transactions. [3]
Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was a Ghanaian politician, scholar, lawyer and statesman. He was a politician in pre- and post-colonial Ghana, which was formerly the Gold Coast, and is credited with giving Ghana its current name.
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Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 2017. He previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kufuor-led administration.
William Ofori Atta, popularly called "Paa Willie", was a Ghanaian founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and one of the founding fathers of Ghana as one of "The Big Six" detained by the British colonial government in the then Gold Coast. He later became a Minister for Foreign Affairs in Ghana's second republic between 1971 and 1972.
Aaron Eugene Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta, was a Ghanaian educator, lawyer and politician who served as the fourth Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana.
Albert Kwadwo Adu Boahen was a Ghanaian academic, historian, and politician. He was an academic at the University of Ghana from 1959 to 1990, from 1971 onwards as a professor. As a politician, he notably was a candidate in the 1992 Ghanaian presidential election, representing the main opposition New Patriotic Party.
Kibi or Kyebi is a town and the capital of the East Akim Municipal District, a district in the Eastern Region of south Ghana, on the eastern slopes of the Atewa Range. Kibi lies at an altitude of 318 m and, in 2013, had a population of 11,677 people.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, KBE was the Okyenhene or King of the Akyem people and of Akyem Abuakwa, a traditional kingdom that stretches back to the thirteenth century and was one of the most influential kingdoms of the then Gold Coast Colony. He ruled from his election in 1912 until his death in 1943.
Okyenhene is the title of the Tribal King of Akyem Abuakwa, an old powerful traditional kingdom in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Okyenhene is also referred to as the Kwaebibiremhene as his traditional territory is an area of a dense forest. Again, the Okyenhene is considered the head of the Asona clan. Asona is the largest of the clans of the Akans which includes the Oyoko, Aduana, Agona, Asakyire, Bretuo, Ekuona among others.
Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, is a Ghanaian investment banker who served as the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning in the cabinet of Nana Akufo-Addo. He was a co-founder of Databank Group, a Ghanaian financial services company, and served as executive chairman until 2012 when he resigned. He was nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 10 January 2017 and assumed office on 27 January 2017 as finance minister. On February 14, 2024, he was relieved of his position as the finance minister of Ghana by Nana Akufo-Addo.
Susan Barbara Gyankorama Ofori-Atta, also de Graft-Johnson, was a Ghanaian medical doctor – the first female doctor on the Gold Coast. She was the first Ghanaian woman and fourth West African woman to earn a university degree. Ofori-Atta was also the third West African woman to become a physician after the Nigerians Agnes Yewande Savage (1929) and Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi (1938). In 1933, Sierra Leonean political activist and higher education pioneer, Edna Elliot-Horton became the second West African woman university graduate and the first to earn a bachelor's degree in the liberal arts. Eventually Ofori-Atta became a medical officer-in-charge at the Kumasi Hospital, and later, she assumed in charge of the Princess Louise Hospital for Women. Her contemporary was Matilda J. Clerk, the second Ghanaian woman and fourth West African woman to become a physician, who was also educated at Achimota and Edinburgh. Ofori-Atta was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Ghana for her work on malnutrition in children, and received the Royal Cross from Pope John Paul II when he visited Ghana in 1980, in recognition of her offering of free medical services at her clinic. She helped to establish the Women's Society for Public Affairs and was a Foundation Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her achievements were a symbol of inspiration to aspiring women physicians in Ghana.
The Ofori-Atta family is composed of the bearers of an Akan language patronymic surname and their relatives. The family is of royal Akyem origins and has been active in business, politics, law and government in Ghana.
Samuel Atta Akyea is a Ghanaian lawyer and politician. A member of the New Patriotic Party of Ghana, he served as the Minister for Works and Housing until January 2021, and the current Member of Parliament of Akim Abuakwa South constituency. He is only the second person apart from President Nana Akufo-Addo to have been elected as MP of that constituency in the 4th republic.
Nana Bediatuo Asante is a Ghanaian administrator, lawyer and consultant. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party. He is the current Executive Secretary to the President of Ghana and the Apagyahene of Akyem Abuakwa.
Nana Kuntunkunuku II was a traditional ruler in Ghana and Paramount Chief of Akyem-Abuakwa in the Eastern Region. His official title was Okyehene - King of Akyem. He succeeded his uncle, Ofori Atta III, and ruled the Akyems for 23 years. He was succeeded by Amoatia Ofori Panin II. He was the seventh president of the National House of Chiefs and served from 1998 till his death in 1999.
Adeline Sylvia Eugenia Ama Yeboakua Akufo-Addo was a First Lady in the second republic of Ghana as the wife of Edward Akufo-Addo and mother of Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo.
Akwasi Andrews Jones Amoako Atta Ofori Atta was a Ghanaian economist and politician. He was a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Ghana and served as ministerial secretary for Finance and Economic Planning in the Busia government.
Nana Amoako Atta I,, was the paramount chief of Akyem Abuakwa in nineteenth century southern Ghana. Locally, his position is known as the Okyehene or Omanhene. He ruled the traditional kingdom from July 1866 to 1880 and from 1885 to 1887. After the Sagrenti War of 1874, the British declared Akyem Abuakwa a colonial possession, legally called a ‘protectorate’, as part of the Gold Coast. This development led to a clash between the old traditional Akan culture and the imposition of the new Western Christian political order.
Nana Dokua was the queen mother of Akyem Abuakwa. She was the one who welcomed the King of the Dwabens called Nana Kwaku Boateng and his army. A civil war broke out between the Ashantis and the Dwabens in 1832, six years after the battle of Akatamansu. In 1824, during her regime, she also provided refuge for the Kotokus who had also assisted Abuakwa in some wars against the Ashantis. During her reign, part of the Juabens revolted against the Ashantis. Nana Kwaku Boateng was the leader of the rebels who was their chief. They were forced to leave Juaben in Ashanti for the south.
Nana Ofori Atta II was the paramount king of Akyem Abuakwa. He lived from 1899 to 1973. He succeeded Nana Sir Ofori Atta I. He was also the successor who was once a member of the Executive Council.