Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah appointed a select group of individuals to assist him in managing the affairs of the nation upon establishing his government as the inaugural president and prime minister.
Key figures like Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Mr K. A. Gbedemah, Mr Kojo Botsio, and Mr A. Casely-Hayford have held office since the first General Election in 1951.
Here’s a compilation of the first twelve (12) individuals who undertook ministerial roles in the newly independent Ghana in 1957.
Trade and Labor, Leader of the House: Kojo Botsio
Kojo Botsio (21 February 1916–6 February 2001) was a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who, after studying in Britain, served as Ghana’s first Minister of Education and Social Welfare in 1951. He later held the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs twice in Kwame Nkrumah’s government and played a significant role in the ruling Convention People’s Party (CPP).
Finance: Komla Agbeli Gbedemah
Komla Agbeli Gbedemah (17 June 1913–11 July 1998), known as “Afro Gbede,” was a Ghanaian politician and Minister for Finance in the Kwame Nkrumah government from 1954 to 1961. Hailing from Anyako in the Volta Region, Gbedemah made significant contributions in the financial sector.
Communications: Archibald “Archie” Casely-Hayford
Archibald “Archie” Casely-Hayford, a British-trained Ghanaian barrister, and politician joined the Convention People’s Party in 1951.
Elected as the Municipal Member for Kumasi, he later became the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the First Republic under Kwame Nkrumah. He was present when Ghana declared independence on March 6, 1957.
Interior: Ebenezer Ako-Adjei
Dr. Ebenezer Ako Adjei (17 June 1916–14 January 2002) was a Ghanaian statesman, politician, lawyer, and journalist. A founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), he played a crucial role in Ghana’s struggle for independence and was part of The Big Six.
Health: Joseph Henry Allasani
Joseph Henry Allassani, a Ghanaian teacher and politician, served as the first Health Minister during the first republic of Ghana. He also held a seat in parliament.
Education: John Bogolo Erzuah
John Bogolo Erzuah (1914-1979), a Ghanaian diplomat, politician, and teacher, served as a minister of state in 1956. He represented Ghana in various foreign missions from 1957 to 1966.
Local Government: Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta
Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta, a Minister for Local Government in Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP government, also served as the Minister for Justice. He later became the Speaker of Parliament in the First Republic of Ghana.
Works: Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck
Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck (1915–1972), a Ghanaian politician and diplomat, was a founding member of the Convention People’s Party and a minister of state in the first republic. He briefly served as the resident minister of Ghana in Guinea and Congo.
Minister Without Portfolio: Krobo Edusei
Krobo Edusei, a prominent member of Kwame Nkrumah’s government, was a popular Ashanti activist and a key figure in the Ghanaian independence movement.
Housing: Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah
Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah, a Ghanaian chemist and politician, served in various ministerial portfolios during the First Republic. He also held the position of the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 1965 to 1966.
Agriculture: Kwame Boahene Yeboah-Afari
Kwame Boahene Yeboah-Afari (13 November 1920–22 May 1996), an educator and politician, served as Ghana’s first Minister for Agriculture and the first Regional Minister for the Brong Ahafo Region. He also represented the Sunyani East constituency in Parliament.
Minister Without Portfolio: Lawrence Rosario Abavana
Lawrence Rosario Abavana (1920–29 May 2004), a Ghanaian politician and teacher, served in various ministerial portfolios in the First Republic. He was a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and later a member of the Council of State in the Third Republic.
In the caption of the March 6, 1957, Ghana Weekly Review, the publication that captured these ministers and their respective portfolios, it reads:
“Ministers of the Government of Ghana are pictured here on this page, with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Prime Minister. Mr. J. B. Erzuah, Mr. Yeboah-Afari, Mr. Krobo Edusei, and Mr. L. R. Abavana had previously served as Ministerial Secretaries.
“In addition to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Mr. K. A. Gbedemah, Minister of Finance; Mr. Kojo Botsio, Minister of Trade and Labour; and Mr. A. Casely-Hayford, Minister of Communications, have held office since the first General Election in 1951.”
Thanks for this interesting historical info. Clearly, Nkrumah relied on quality and not quantity. The 12 ministers whose performance far excelled 150 in modern times.