William Ofori Atta
Encyclopedia
Nana William Ofori Atta (popularly called "Paa Willie") was a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention
and was one of "The Big Six
" detained by the British
colonial government in Ghana
(then Gold Coast
). He later became a Minister for Foreign Affairs
in the second republic between 1971 and 1972.
who was the Omanhene (King) of Akyem Abuakwa
between 1912 and 1943. He was thus a prince of royal lineage. William Ofori Atta attended the Mfantsipim School
, one of the most prestigious schools in Ghana. He was later among the first batch of students at the Achimota School
who pioneered the intermediate degree programs. He was also the first ever school prefect of the School. His batch of students went on to form the nucleus of the University of Ghana
. He became a lawyer in 1956.
in opposition to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He was detained by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
during the first republic under the Preventive Detention Act. During the second republic, he was Minister for Education and then Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Progress Party
government of Dr. Busia
.
He was an active member of the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) which campaigned against the 'Union Government' concept by General I.K. Acheampong, then Head of state of Ghana and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council
(SMC). This was an attempt by the military regime to extend military rule instead of handing back power to civilians. After the fall of the SMC, he stood for president in the 1979 Ghanaian presidential election
on the ticket of the United National Convention
coming third with 17.41% of the popular vote.
in Accra
in 1967.
Ofori Atta delivered the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1985. His topic was - "Ghana, A Nation in Crisis". He died in 1988 and was given a state burial.
United Gold Coast Convention
The United Gold Coast Convention was a political party whose aim was to bring about Ghanaian independence from British rule after the Second World War....
and was one of "The Big Six
The Big Six (Ghana)
The Big Six were six leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention , the leading political party in the British colony of the Gold Coast. They were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II veterans...
" detained by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial government in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
(then Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
). He later became a Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Ghana government official who is responsible for overseeing the country's foreign policy and international diplomacy. The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet....
in the second republic between 1971 and 1972.
Early life
Nana William Ofori Atta was the son of Nana Sir Ofori Atta INana Sir Ofori Atta I
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I was the Okyenhene or King of Akyem Abuakwa, one of the largest and wealthiest kingdoms of the then Gold Coast Colony, from his election in 1912 until his death in 1943....
who was the Omanhene (King) of Akyem Abuakwa
Akyem Abuakwa
Akyem Abuakwa describes a traditional geo-political entity in Eastern GhanaAkyen Abuakwa is one of the three independent states along with Akyem Bosome and Akyem Kotoku that forms the Akyem Mansa. This nation state with a non-contiguous land mass exists in the Eastern and Ashanti region of...
between 1912 and 1943. He was thus a prince of royal lineage. William Ofori Atta attended the Mfantsipim School
Mfantsipim School
Mfantsipim SchoolMotto:Dwen Hwe Kan .Established: 3rd April 1876.Public School . Affiliated with Wesleyanism/Methodist Church.Head of school: Kwame Mieza Edjah.Staff:85....
, one of the most prestigious schools in Ghana. He was later among the first batch of students at the Achimota School
Achimota School
Achimota School , is an elite and highly selective co-educational secondary school located at Achimota in Accra, Ghana. It was established and commenced operations in 1924 and formally opened in 1927 by Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg -- then governor of the Gold Coast...
who pioneered the intermediate degree programs. He was also the first ever school prefect of the School. His batch of students went on to form the nucleus of the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
. He became a lawyer in 1956.
Politics
William Ofori Atta was a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention. He later became the leader of the United PartyUnited Party (Ghana)
The United Party was the main opposition party in the First Republic of Ghana. It was the only opposition party throughout its existence from 1957 until 1964 when Ghana became a one party state.-Formation:...
in opposition to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He was detained by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
during the first republic under the Preventive Detention Act. During the second republic, he was Minister for Education and then Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Progress Party
Progress Party
Progress Party may refer to:* Gabonese Progress Party, political party in Gabon* German Progress Party, the first modern political party with a program in Germany...
government of Dr. Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969–72. He was born in Wenchi, in the then British colony of Gold Coast . He was educated at Methodist School, Wenchi, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, then at Wesley College, Kumasi from 1931–32. He later became a teacher at Achimota Secondary...
.
He was an active member of the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) which campaigned against the 'Union Government' concept by General I.K. Acheampong, then Head of state of Ghana and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council
Supreme Military Council, Ghana
The Supreme Military Council was the ruling government of Ghana from October 9, 1975 to June 4, 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.- SMC I and II :...
(SMC). This was an attempt by the military regime to extend military rule instead of handing back power to civilians. After the fall of the SMC, he stood for president in the 1979 Ghanaian presidential election
Ghanaian presidential election, 1979
Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 18 June 1979 , with a second round on 9 July 1979. The result was a victory for Hilla Limann of the People's National Party, who won 62.0% of the votes in the second round....
on the ticket of the United National Convention
United National Convention
The United National Convention was a political party in Ghana during the Third Republic .In the elections held on 18 June 1979 UNC presidential candidate William Ofori Atta won 17.4% of the vote and the party won 13 of 140 seats in the National Assembly....
coming third with 17.41% of the popular vote.
Later life
William Ofori Atta became a devout Christian and played various roles in Christian circles. He was one of the founders of the Accra Chapel Trust, an independent evangelical church at the Korle Bu Teaching HospitalKorle Bu Teaching Hospital
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is the premier health care facility in Ghana. It is the only tertiary hospital in the southern part of Ghana and it is also a teaching hospital affiliated with the medical school of the University of Ghana...
in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
in 1967.
Ofori Atta delivered the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences is an arts and science institution of Ghana, based in the capital Accra. It was founded in 1959 by Kwame Nkrumah with the aim to promote the pursuit, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in all branches of the sciences and the humanities.It formally...
in 1985. His topic was - "Ghana, A Nation in Crisis". He died in 1988 and was given a state burial.
William Ofori-Atta Memorial Lectures
The William Ofori-Atta Memorial Lectures were instituted in memory of Paa Willie after his death.See also
- The Big SixThe Big Six (Ghana)The Big Six were six leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention , the leading political party in the British colony of the Gold Coast. They were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II veterans...
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Ghana government official who is responsible for overseeing the country's foreign policy and international diplomacy. The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet....
- United Gold Coast ConventionUnited Gold Coast ConventionThe United Gold Coast Convention was a political party whose aim was to bring about Ghanaian independence from British rule after the Second World War....