Kofi Baako
Hon. Kofi Baako | |
---|---|
5thMinister for Defence (Ghana) | |
In office September 1961 – February 1966 | |
President | Kwame Nkrumah |
Preceded by | Charles de Graft Dickson |
Succeeded by | Joseph Arthur Ankrah |
Constituency | Saltpond |
Minister for Information and Broadcasting | |
In office 1 August 1957 – 1959 | |
President | Kwame Nkrumah |
Constituency | Saltpond |
Personal details | |
Born | 1926 |
Died | 1984 (aged 57–58) |
Political party | Convention People's Party |
Other political affiliations | United Gold Coast Convention |
Children | Kweku Baako Jnr |
Kofi Baako(1926-1984) was aGhanaiansportsman, teacher and politician. He served as Minister for Defence in theNkrumah governmentduring the First Republic of Ghana until it was overthrown in 1966. He was also held various other ministries throughout the reign of theConvention People's Party.
Early life and education
[edit]Kofi Baako's father was a teacher. He made Kofi Baako start school when he was only three years old. On completion of his elementary school education at the Roman Catholic School in his nativeSaltpond,he continued with his secondary school education atSt. Augustine's College,Cape Coast.[1]
Work and politics
[edit]Baako became a teacher and later a civil servant. He was inspired by the speeches ofKwame Nkrumahadvocating for independence for Ghana. This inspired him to write an article, "My Hatred of Imperialism" which resulted in him being fired from his job. He later met Nkrumah who made him editor-in-chief of the Cape Coast Daily Mail when he was still only twenty years old. Another article he subsequently wrote while with the Daily Mail was "We Call for Freedom." This got him imprisoned by the colonial government. Nkrumah and some other leaders of theConvention People's Partywere jailed with him. Later when Nkrumah eventually won elections and formed a government, some of these men who were in prison with him became ministers in Nkrumah's government.
Kofi Baako was elected as Member of Parliament for Saltpond in theCentral Regionof Ghana. He was appointed a Minister of State byKwame Nkrumahin his colonial government prior to independence. He continued in various capacities throughout the duration of theNkrumah government.In the earlier years of the government, he was initially a Minister without portfolio prior to being appointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting in August 1957, making him the youngest minister not only inGhana[2]but in the whole of the BritishCommonwealth of Nations.He was appointed into office when he was only 29 years old.[3]
Baako served asMinister for Defencebetween September 1961 and 24 February 1966.[4][5]
Other activities
[edit]He was reputed to have been good in sport and was active in soccer, cricket and was the national table-tennis champion. His hobbies included reading and photography.[3]
Family
[edit]Baako had four children. One of them,Kweku Baako Jnris ajournalistand editor of theNew Crusading Guidenewspaper.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"The New Ghana, Volume 7". Ghana Information Services Department. 1962: 21.
{{cite journal}}
:Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^Jubilee Ghana. A 50-year news journey thru' Graphic.Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 19.ISBN9988-8097-8-6.
Baako To Head New Ministry
- ^ab"The Shadow of the Sun".Books excerpt.The New York Times on the web.Retrieved21 May2013.
- ^Kraus, Jon (April 1966)."Ghana Without Nkrumah - The Men In Charge".Africa Report.Archived fromthe originalon 19 May 2007.Retrieved21 May2013.
- ^"Past Ministers".Official website.Ghana Armed Forces.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2013.Retrieved21 May2013.
- ^"Kudos Nduom!! Leave The Crazy Bald Heads To Stew In Their Hypocricy [sic] ".ModernGhana.com.Retrieved21 May2013.
- Ghanaian MPs 1954–1956
- Ghanaian MPs 1956–1965
- Ghanaian MPs 1965–1966
- Defence ministers of Ghana
- Education ministers of Ghana
- Information ministers of Ghana
- United Gold Coast Convention politicians
- Convention People's Party (Ghana) politicians
- Ghanaian journalists
- Ghanaian sportspeople
- 1926 births
- 1984 deaths
- St. Augustine's College (Cape Coast) alumni
- Ghanaian independence activists
- Journalists from Gold Coast (British colony)