Kwesi Armah
| Ein sex anaa gender | male  |
|---|---|
| Ein country of citizenship | Ghana |
| Name wey dem give am | Kwesi |
| Family name | Armah |
| Ein date of birth | 21 September 1929 |
| Date wey edie | 24 November 2006 |
| Place wey edie | Accra |
| Kiddie | Esther Armah |
| Languages edey speak, rep anaa sign | English |
| Ein occupation | diplomat, politician, minister |
| Position ehold | Member of the 2nd Parliament of the 1st Republic of Ghana |
| Educate for | Ghana National College |
| Political party ein member | Convention People's Party |
| Religion anaa worldview | Christianity |
Kwesi Armah (wey dem born am 21 September 1929[1] – he die 24 November 2006)[2] be Ghanaian politician plus diplomat. He serve as High Commissioner (Ambassador) to de Court of St. James for London, England, den Minister of Foreign Trade under Kwame Nkrumah ein government before de military coup wey happen for 1966. Later, he serve for Council of State insyd John Kufuor ein government.[3][4]
Role insyd de Vietnam War
[edit | edit source]Wen he dey serve as High Commissioner, Armah lead delegation of diplomats wey Nkrumah send go Vietnam for 1965 make dem build relationship plus de government for Hanoi after dem reject one Commonwealth Peace Mission wey dem propose earlier dat year.[5] Dat mission end wen President Ho Chi Minh personally thank de delegation plus Nkrumah for demma concern, but he still reject de proposed mission as one American-driven "negotiated settlement" wey he call say e be "fraudulent and sinister".[6]
Even though dem reject am, Nkrumah still get strong mind say he go involve einsef for de conflict, so for February 1966 he lead anoda delegation plus Armah go Vietnam. But as dem dey on dis mission, military forces inside Ghana do coup d'état while de leaders no dey. Armah no fit come back Ghana again, so he turn exile, den de military forces target ein family put dem for house arrest. As Armah land back for London, Ghana try make dem extradite am go back say he misuse £30,000 government money. But de UK Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, talk say Ghana bring de charges because of political reasons, so he refuse de extradition under de Fugitive Offenders Act. Even though dem free Armah, dem still try am for de Old Bailey, but later dem clear am of all charges. Armah no see ein family for two years until dem too get release from house arrest den return go demma home for England.[7]
Leadership den coup
[edit | edit source]Nkrumaist political party dem no dey allowed again till dem establish Ghana ein Third Republic, wey Jerry Rawlings make e happen after e lead de Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) coup for June 1979. Armah come turn leader for de People's National Party (PNP), wey come win power insyd de first—and only—election for dat republic, wey carry Hilla Limann go presidency. But just two years later, Rawlings do anoda coup wey overthrow de Limann government. Rawlings then create de Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), wey start dey run Public Tribunals wey dem talk say no go be “fettered by legal technicalities.” Armah plus two other PNP leaders come chop charges say dem bribe some former AFRC officers, den dem jail am seven years for corruption. Dem still detain am again for 1991 under “national security” reasons after e write one article for Christian Chronicle wey criticize de PNDC government. Dem no carry am go court till after three months.[8]
Death
[edit | edit source]Kwesi Armah die for Accra on 24 November 2006. He marry den get five kiddies, insyd dem be de writer den analyst Esther Armah.[2]
Publications
[edit | edit source]- Africa's Golden Road, Heinemann Educational Books, 1965
- Ghana: Nkrumah's Legacy, London: Rex Collings, 1974
- Peace without Power: Ghana's Foreign Policy 1957-1966, Ghana Universities Press, 2004. ISBN 978-9964303006
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Armah, Kwesi", Africa Year Book and Who's Who 1977, London: Africa Journal Limited, 1976, p. 1063.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kwesi Armah passes on". ghanaweb.com. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ Ivor Agyeman-Duah (25 March 2007). "Nkrumah's Foreign Policy and Kwesi Armah as a Witness". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
- ↑ Arkhurst, Frederick (2006). African Diplomacy: The UN Experience. Author House. p. 271. ISBN 1420891049.
- ↑ Arkhurst, Frederick (2006). African Diplomacy: The UN Experience. Author House. p. 271. ISBN 1420891049.
- ↑ Armah, Esther (2006). Can I Be Me?. iUniverse. p. 84. ISBN 0595382738.
- ↑ "Ghana: Information on the arrest of a newspaper editor and two members of the opposition". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 1 June 1992. Retrieved 16 July 2012.