Kwaku Boateng (politician)
Kwaku Boateng (c. 1926 – 1 May 2006) was a Ghanaian barrister, politician, Christian evangelist and cabinet minister.
Kwaku Boateng | |
---|---|
Minister for Education | |
In office 1964–1966 | |
President | Kwame Nkrumah |
Preceded by | Alfred Jonas Dowuona-Hammond |
Minister for Interior | |
In office 1961–1964 | |
President | Kwame Nkrumah |
Preceded by | Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah |
Succeeded by | Lawrence Rosario Abavana |
Minister for Information | |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1926 |
Died | 1 May 2006 (aged 80) Cape Town |
Nationality | Ghanaian |
Political party | Convention People's Party |
Spouse(s) | Mrs. Eleanor Boateng |
Children | Paul Boateng Rosemary Boateng |
Alma mater | King's College London |
Profession | Barrister, Evangelist |
Early life and education
Boateng was born to Opanin Acheampong and Madam Anima Acheampong of Old Tafo in the Akyem Abuakwa. He started schooling at the Old Tafo Primary School and continued at the Begoro Senior School for his middle school education. He entered Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast in 1941 and was there until 1944 when he was transferred to the Presbyterian Secondary School at Odumase Krobo where he received his Cambridge School Certificate. He proceeded to Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1948 but left in 1949 and enrolled at King's College London University. He graduated in 1954 obtaining his Bachelor of Laws Degree and was called to the English Bar at Gray's Inn in 1955. He was called to the Ghana Bar later that year and subsequently entered La Chambers as a junior practitioner. He begun his own private practice in 1956 and remained in private practice until December that year when he was elected Member of Parliament for the Tafo constituency.[1]
Politics
Kwaku Boateng was a member of the Convention People's Party and served in various capacities in the Nkrumah government. He was Information Minister[2] and in 1961, became Interior Minister.[3] He was Education Minister under Kwame Nkrumah from May 1964.[4][5][6][7]
Exile
After the 24 February 1966 coup d'état by the National Liberation Council, he along with other members of the government went into exile. He went to the United Kingdom with his family.[8]
Other activities
While Minister of Education, He opened the Bible House, headquarters of the Bible Society of Ghana on behalf of Kwame Nkrumah in 1965. He was a trustee of the Bible Society until his death.[9] Towards the end of his political career, Boateng became an evangelist.[10]
Family
Paul Boateng, a British Labour politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, is his son. Kwaku Boateng's wife was Mrs. Eleanor Boateng who was Scottish.Brothers Andrew Boateng, New York, Francis Boateng, Lieutenant Los Angeles Police Department, Commercial Crimes Division. In the early 1950s, Kwaku Boateng had an affair with a young woman, bearing him a son Isaac Boateng.
Death
Kwaku Boateng died on 1 May 2006 at Paul's home in Cape Town, South Africa during Paul's stint as High Commissioner to South Africa. He was 80 years old.[10]
References
- Sowah, E. N. P (1968). Report of the Sowah Commission : appointed under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1964 (Act 250) and N.L.C. Investigation and Forfeiture of Assests Decree, 1966 N.L.C.D. 72 to enquire into the assests of specified persons. p. 65.
- "SOVIET FILMS FOR GHANA; Official Urges They Be Used as Solution to Censorship". The New York Times. December 24, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- R.L. Bidwell, ed. (1974-02-25). Bidwell's Guide to Government Ministers: The British Empire and Successor, 1900-72. Routledge. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7146-3017-5. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
- "New Courts Are Set Up by Nkrumah". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. October 30, 1961. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- "Ghana Purges Political Foes". Daily Collegian. 1961-10-31. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- Walker, Tim (9 November 2008). "Paul Boateng 4 PM". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
In 2002, shortly before his death, Boateng senior said ...
- "Article 1 -- No Title". The New York Times. May 2, 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- "Paul Boateng: First Black British Minister". General News. Ghana Home Page. 2002-05-29. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
- "BIBLE HOUSE IN ACCRA OPENED". Bible Society of Ghana. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
- "Kwaku Boateng Passes Away". Ghana Home Page. 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
See also
Parliament of Ghana | ||
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Preceded by |
1960 – ? |
Succeeded by ? |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by |
Ministry for Information ? – ? |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah |
Minister for the Interior 1961 – 1964 |
Succeeded by Laurence Abavana |
Preceded by ? |
Minister for Education 1964 – ? |
Succeeded by ? |