Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (1881–1943), K.B.E: Non Bad Nationalist, Educator, Traditional Ruler As Well As 1 Of The Outstanding African Of His Generation
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (1881–1943) was the Okyenhene or King of Akyem Abuakwa, i of the largest together with wealthiest kingdoms of the hence Gold Coast Colony (now Ghana), from his election inward 1912 until his snuff it inward 1943.
He was a hitting personality together with without dubiety an outstanding African of his generation inward Gold Coast. As i of the few educated chiefs inward the hence Gold Coast Nana`s stewardship both inward his tribal affairs together with inward the full general politics of the Colony was exceptional. He was at i time a main of his ain people, the acknowledged leader of his blood brother chiefs inward the Colony together with the valued together with trusted advisor of the Government. His conviction to back upward his swain chiefs together with strengthening of the seat of chiefs inward colonial authorities saw him colliding with the Gold Coast intelligentsia specially with celebrated J eastward Casely-Hayford together with roughly members of the Aborigines Right Protection Society (ARPS).
As a effect of this roughly historians assault him every bit an ambitious main together with a "colonialist stooge." However, his hardworking purpose inward leading Gold coast Delegation including Dr Frederick Nanka-Bruce to petition British parliament inward 1934 to strength British Government to take obnoxious laws together with need for official bulk of Africans on the legislative council, permanent African representative on the Governor`s executive council together with eligibility for non-chiefs to live every bit provincial members of the executive council proved that Nana indeed was non what his detractors perceived him to be.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (1881 - 1943, centre), Paramount Chief of the Gold Coast Colony, visits the Cadbury's chocolate factory, Bournville, Birmingham, tenth July 1928. (Photo yesteryear Crouch/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Nana was an eminent say-so on colonial reason laws inward the Legislative Council where he was showtime on the fiscal commission with Dr Frederick Nanka-Bruce. Nana Sir Ofori Atta`s oftentimes quoted contestation on the customary concept of ownership of reason inward Republic of Ghana is: "I conceive that reason belongs to a vast menage unit of measurement of whom many are dead, a few are living together with countless host are silent unborn."
In 1927, Nana Ofori Atta was knighted or honored every bit a Knight of British Empire (KBE) for his hardworking purpose inward authorities together with service to the Gold Coast Colony, He was thereafter known every bit Nana Sir Ofori Atta or Sir Ofori Atta.
Nana Ofori Atta was born at Akyem Abuakwa every bit a royal inward 1881. He was educated inward Basel Mission schools together with at its Akuapim-Akropong Seminary. After his successful completion of his Seminary education, he worked every bit a clerk, together with hence served inward the West African Frontier Force, fighting during the Yaa Asantewaa War.
Nana was later on elected every bit an Omanhene of Akyem Abuakwa inward 1912, together with he proceeded to became the instant African fellow member of the Legislative Council inward 1916 to stand upward for the Gold Coast, after George Kuntu Blankson. Nana used these privileged purpose every bit i of the few educated main inward the Colony to champion the motility of his people. He was the vocalism for his swain chiefs together with cahmpion their purpose every bit legitimate leaders that stand upward for the people together with non the educated aeroplane or the Gold Coast intelligentsia. As a historian F. M. Bourret succinctly summed it upward inward his mass "Ghana, the Road to Independence, 1919-1957" Nana after becoming a fellow member of the Legislative Council "was to brand this finish of raising the seat of chiefs together with encouraging them to usual cooperation the principal achievement of his political career, which did non terminate until his snuff it his snuff it inward 1943."
Nana was also a rattling forceful vocalism of the Gold Coast farmers. He criticized the Colonial Government for cheating the cocoa farmers inward the agency they utilisation scales to weigh their cocoa. "The planters felt that they could sell to a greater extent than cocoa together with at higher cost if they took over shipment of the crops themselves. They worked through 4 prominent chief- Ofori Atta I of Akyem Abuakwa, Chief Tackie Obile of Accra, Ofori Kuma II of Akwapim, together with Kwaku Boateng (grandfather of Baron, Lord Paul Boateng of Britain) of New Juaben who inward 1918 chartered a boat for £20,000 for transportation cocoa from Accra to New York, French Republic or Liverpool. This organization worked good until 1924. In that year, the planters together with the chiefs entrusted the selling of a large consignment of cocoa inward New York to an American called F. D. Stickler. Unfortunately this human swindled them of £350,000 after selling the the product. This brought their organization for transportation together with marketing cocoa to an end." (See Francis Agbodeka "Ghana inward the Twenthieth Century" page 94 or The Gold Coast Independent, August1, 1925).
Nana Ofori Atta was oftentimes suspicious of Gold Coast intelligentsia plotting to displace Chiefs out of politics. He saw the intelligentsia every bit ratifying Bills that sought to curtail the purpose of chiefs together with making room for the non-chiefs. Nana himself was also defendant of ratifying Bills that favors the British together with fighting against the involvement of Gold Coast intelligentsia whom he saw every bit a threat to his ability base. When Governor Frederick Guggisberg set out the novel constitution for the Gold Coast inward May 1925, giving for the showtime fourth dimension the correct of the elected representation together with silent maintaining the large Provincial Council which constituted the Chiefs together with appointees of the British government, the Gold Coast elites became rattling angry against the constabulary whilst Nana Ofori Atta supported it. This created a serious friction betwixt the intelligentsia together with Nana Ofori Atta who believed inward Governor Guggisberg words that the novel constitution`s retaining of "Provincial Councils are actually the breakwaters, defending our native constitutions, institutions, together with customs against the disintegrating waves of Western civilization....." Dr James Kwegyir Aggrey who witnessed the bitterness which the novel constitution has engendered betwixt the chiefs together with the intelligentsia (especially members of Aborigines Right Protection Society together with British West African Congress) wrote inward the jump of 1926 to his friend inward America:
"The New Order inward Council concerning the novel Legislative Council had stirred upward the hornets nest. Part of the people of the Eastern Province, specially the educated, are against it... The paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province... including Nana Ofori Atta I together with Konor Mate-Korle are heartily for it. The political atmosphere is charged!" (see Smith, Aggrey of Africa pp. 259-60)
But that was non oftentimes the case! In 1930 when the colonial authorities made several attempts to innovate local taxation, audio treasury systems, together with to a greater extent than efficient courts, i urban lawyer together with representative of the Legislative Council tried to block the bill. In his disgust Nana Ofori Atta said :"If i heed to these Barristers I oftentimes wonder what they actually intend of the chiefs. One twenty-four hr catamenia they volition state to the chiefs "You are Almighty God," together with the side yesteryear side twenty-four hr catamenia the chiefs would non live worthy of honour due to scavenger."
Nana Ofori Atta I sitting with his kra (soul/little boy) inward from his him together with his junior blood brother Dr J B Danquah standing (first from left), when Gold Coast/Akyem delegation visited England inward 1940,s
When the Colonial authorities introduced obnoxious laws that limit the inclusion of Africans inward the Legislative Council, Nana set his differences with the Gold Coast educated elites aside together with inward 1934 led a Gold Coast Delegation that includes Dr Frederick Nanka Bruce together with grand K Korsah (later Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, the showtime African Chief Justice of Ghana), the municipal representatives for Accra together with Cape Coast respectively every bit good every bit v representatives of Ashanti Province to London to petition the British Parliament to take an unpopular Bills together with also inquire for full general constitutional reforms. The petition which they presented to the secretarial assistant of nation for the colonies inward 1934 demanded for official bulk of Africans on the legislative council, permanent African representative on the Governor`s executive council together with eligibility for non-chiefs to live every bit provincial members of the executive council. Though Nana together with his delegation`s demands were non met, however, it gave impetus for Aborigines correct Protection Council to mail its ain delegation to U.K. to press dwelling theatre to a greater extent than need volition saw the obnoxious bills withdrawn together with petition granted.
"Ofori Atta was the boy of a senior official of the palace; his woman nurture was the descendant of i of the founders of the kingdom.... Once inward power, he was determined to furnish Akyem Abuakwa to its sometime glory. His approach to politics was a mix of educational modernism together with aristocratic nepotism that gave every bit much importance to merit every bit it did to blood." He created a dynasty yesteryear privileging pedagogy both with his sons together with daughters, through 2 paths, “one firmly rooted inward a trouble for binding the nation yesteryear the traditionally sanctioned method of multiple union together with the other rooted inward his potent instance for ‘modernisation’ together with ‘progress’.”
Apart from Governor Gordon Guggisberg, Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey together with Fraser, Nana Ofori Atta tin live said to convey played a singularly instrumental purpose inward the establishment of Achimota School or College (formerly Prince of Wales School), where nearly colonial Gold Coast leaders together with electrical flow prominent Ghanaian leaders schooled.
Nana Ofori Atta I waved a lastly goodbye to the reason of the living together with journeyed to his ancestors inward August 21, 1943. He left behind an intelligent educated aeroplane inward his menage unit of measurement together with for woman nurture Ghana.
Nana was the blood brother of Dr. J. B. Danquah (a founder of the United Gold Coast Convention), together with the manlike individual nurture of Aaron Ofori Atta (a Minister of Communications together with Minister of Local Government), William Ofori Atta (a Minister of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Candidate of the UNC), Dr Akwasi Amoako-Atta (Governor of Bank of Ghana), Dr Jones Ofori-Atta (Deputy Minister of Finance), together with Dr. Susannah Ofori Atta (the showtime woman individual Dr. inward West Africa). He was the granddad of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's sometime Foreign Minister together with Presidential Candidate of the NPP inward 2008 together with 2012.
Source Kweku Darko Ankrah (http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.de/)
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, Okyehene or Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Nationalist, Educator, instant African fellow member of the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly together with a founding fellow member of Achimota School. Circa 1928. Courtesy http://www.npg.org.uk/
He was a hitting personality together with without dubiety an outstanding African of his generation inward Gold Coast. As i of the few educated chiefs inward the hence Gold Coast Nana`s stewardship both inward his tribal affairs together with inward the full general politics of the Colony was exceptional. He was at i time a main of his ain people, the acknowledged leader of his blood brother chiefs inward the Colony together with the valued together with trusted advisor of the Government. His conviction to back upward his swain chiefs together with strengthening of the seat of chiefs inward colonial authorities saw him colliding with the Gold Coast intelligentsia specially with celebrated J eastward Casely-Hayford together with roughly members of the Aborigines Right Protection Society (ARPS).
Nana Sir Ofori I, KBE, King of Akyem Abuakwa together with i of the star politicians of the Gold Coast after his knighthood yesteryear Queen Elizabeth. Circa 1927
As a effect of this roughly historians assault him every bit an ambitious main together with a "colonialist stooge." However, his hardworking purpose inward leading Gold coast Delegation including Dr Frederick Nanka-Bruce to petition British parliament inward 1934 to strength British Government to take obnoxious laws together with need for official bulk of Africans on the legislative council, permanent African representative on the Governor`s executive council together with eligibility for non-chiefs to live every bit provincial members of the executive council proved that Nana indeed was non what his detractors perceived him to be.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (1881 - 1943, centre), Paramount Chief of the Gold Coast Colony, visits the Cadbury's chocolate factory, Bournville, Birmingham, tenth July 1928. (Photo yesteryear Crouch/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Nana was an eminent say-so on colonial reason laws inward the Legislative Council where he was showtime on the fiscal commission with Dr Frederick Nanka-Bruce. Nana Sir Ofori Atta`s oftentimes quoted contestation on the customary concept of ownership of reason inward Republic of Ghana is: "I conceive that reason belongs to a vast menage unit of measurement of whom many are dead, a few are living together with countless host are silent unborn."
In 1927, Nana Ofori Atta was knighted or honored every bit a Knight of British Empire (KBE) for his hardworking purpose inward authorities together with service to the Gold Coast Colony, He was thereafter known every bit Nana Sir Ofori Atta or Sir Ofori Atta.
His Royal Majesty Nana Sir Ofori Atta, KBE, King of Akyem Abuakwa State, Nationalist leader together with customary landownership expert. Circa June 22, 1928
Nana Ofori Atta was born at Akyem Abuakwa every bit a royal inward 1881. He was educated inward Basel Mission schools together with at its Akuapim-Akropong Seminary. After his successful completion of his Seminary education, he worked every bit a clerk, together with hence served inward the West African Frontier Force, fighting during the Yaa Asantewaa War.
Nana was later on elected every bit an Omanhene of Akyem Abuakwa inward 1912, together with he proceeded to became the instant African fellow member of the Legislative Council inward 1916 to stand upward for the Gold Coast, after George Kuntu Blankson. Nana used these privileged purpose every bit i of the few educated main inward the Colony to champion the motility of his people. He was the vocalism for his swain chiefs together with cahmpion their purpose every bit legitimate leaders that stand upward for the people together with non the educated aeroplane or the Gold Coast intelligentsia. As a historian F. M. Bourret succinctly summed it upward inward his mass "Ghana, the Road to Independence, 1919-1957" Nana after becoming a fellow member of the Legislative Council "was to brand this finish of raising the seat of chiefs together with encouraging them to usual cooperation the principal achievement of his political career, which did non terminate until his snuff it his snuff it inward 1943."
His Royal Majesty Nana Sir William Ofori Atta, K.B.E, Omanhen of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area. Circa
Nana was also a rattling forceful vocalism of the Gold Coast farmers. He criticized the Colonial Government for cheating the cocoa farmers inward the agency they utilisation scales to weigh their cocoa. "The planters felt that they could sell to a greater extent than cocoa together with at higher cost if they took over shipment of the crops themselves. They worked through 4 prominent chief- Ofori Atta I of Akyem Abuakwa, Chief Tackie Obile of Accra, Ofori Kuma II of Akwapim, together with Kwaku Boateng (grandfather of Baron, Lord Paul Boateng of Britain) of New Juaben who inward 1918 chartered a boat for £20,000 for transportation cocoa from Accra to New York, French Republic or Liverpool. This organization worked good until 1924. In that year, the planters together with the chiefs entrusted the selling of a large consignment of cocoa inward New York to an American called F. D. Stickler. Unfortunately this human swindled them of £350,000 after selling the the product. This brought their organization for transportation together with marketing cocoa to an end." (See Francis Agbodeka "Ghana inward the Twenthieth Century" page 94 or The Gold Coast Independent, August1, 1925).
Nana Ofori Atta was oftentimes suspicious of Gold Coast intelligentsia plotting to displace Chiefs out of politics. He saw the intelligentsia every bit ratifying Bills that sought to curtail the purpose of chiefs together with making room for the non-chiefs. Nana himself was also defendant of ratifying Bills that favors the British together with fighting against the involvement of Gold Coast intelligentsia whom he saw every bit a threat to his ability base. When Governor Frederick Guggisberg set out the novel constitution for the Gold Coast inward May 1925, giving for the showtime fourth dimension the correct of the elected representation together with silent maintaining the large Provincial Council which constituted the Chiefs together with appointees of the British government, the Gold Coast elites became rattling angry against the constabulary whilst Nana Ofori Atta supported it. This created a serious friction betwixt the intelligentsia together with Nana Ofori Atta who believed inward Governor Guggisberg words that the novel constitution`s retaining of "Provincial Councils are actually the breakwaters, defending our native constitutions, institutions, together with customs against the disintegrating waves of Western civilization....." Dr James Kwegyir Aggrey who witnessed the bitterness which the novel constitution has engendered betwixt the chiefs together with the intelligentsia (especially members of Aborigines Right Protection Society together with British West African Congress) wrote inward the jump of 1926 to his friend inward America:
"The New Order inward Council concerning the novel Legislative Council had stirred upward the hornets nest. Part of the people of the Eastern Province, specially the educated, are against it... The paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province... including Nana Ofori Atta I together with Konor Mate-Korle are heartily for it. The political atmosphere is charged!" (see Smith, Aggrey of Africa pp. 259-60)
But that was non oftentimes the case! In 1930 when the colonial authorities made several attempts to innovate local taxation, audio treasury systems, together with to a greater extent than efficient courts, i urban lawyer together with representative of the Legislative Council tried to block the bill. In his disgust Nana Ofori Atta said :"If i heed to these Barristers I oftentimes wonder what they actually intend of the chiefs. One twenty-four hr catamenia they volition state to the chiefs "You are Almighty God," together with the side yesteryear side twenty-four hr catamenia the chiefs would non live worthy of honour due to scavenger."
Nana Ofori Atta I sitting with his kra (soul/little boy) inward from his him together with his junior blood brother Dr J B Danquah standing (first from left), when Gold Coast/Akyem delegation visited England inward 1940,s
When the Colonial authorities introduced obnoxious laws that limit the inclusion of Africans inward the Legislative Council, Nana set his differences with the Gold Coast educated elites aside together with inward 1934 led a Gold Coast Delegation that includes Dr Frederick Nanka Bruce together with grand K Korsah (later Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, the showtime African Chief Justice of Ghana), the municipal representatives for Accra together with Cape Coast respectively every bit good every bit v representatives of Ashanti Province to London to petition the British Parliament to take an unpopular Bills together with also inquire for full general constitutional reforms. The petition which they presented to the secretarial assistant of nation for the colonies inward 1934 demanded for official bulk of Africans on the legislative council, permanent African representative on the Governor`s executive council together with eligibility for non-chiefs to live every bit provincial members of the executive council. Though Nana together with his delegation`s demands were non met, however, it gave impetus for Aborigines correct Protection Council to mail its ain delegation to U.K. to press dwelling theatre to a greater extent than need volition saw the obnoxious bills withdrawn together with petition granted.
His Royal Majesty Sir Nana Ofori Atta I, K.B.E, Okyehene together with the pioneer educationist. Circa 1928
"Ofori Atta was the boy of a senior official of the palace; his woman nurture was the descendant of i of the founders of the kingdom.... Once inward power, he was determined to furnish Akyem Abuakwa to its sometime glory. His approach to politics was a mix of educational modernism together with aristocratic nepotism that gave every bit much importance to merit every bit it did to blood." He created a dynasty yesteryear privileging pedagogy both with his sons together with daughters, through 2 paths, “one firmly rooted inward a trouble for binding the nation yesteryear the traditionally sanctioned method of multiple union together with the other rooted inward his potent instance for ‘modernisation’ together with ‘progress’.”
Apart from Governor Gordon Guggisberg, Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey together with Fraser, Nana Ofori Atta tin live said to convey played a singularly instrumental purpose inward the establishment of Achimota School or College (formerly Prince of Wales School), where nearly colonial Gold Coast leaders together with electrical flow prominent Ghanaian leaders schooled.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, Gold Coast Nationalist together with political heavyweight sitting majestically on his Royal throne
Nana Ofori Atta I waved a lastly goodbye to the reason of the living together with journeyed to his ancestors inward August 21, 1943. He left behind an intelligent educated aeroplane inward his menage unit of measurement together with for woman nurture Ghana.
Nana was the blood brother of Dr. J. B. Danquah (a founder of the United Gold Coast Convention), together with the manlike individual nurture of Aaron Ofori Atta (a Minister of Communications together with Minister of Local Government), William Ofori Atta (a Minister of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Candidate of the UNC), Dr Akwasi Amoako-Atta (Governor of Bank of Ghana), Dr Jones Ofori-Atta (Deputy Minister of Finance), together with Dr. Susannah Ofori Atta (the showtime woman individual Dr. inward West Africa). He was the granddad of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's sometime Foreign Minister together with Presidential Candidate of the NPP inward 2008 together with 2012.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta I together with his retinue. Circa Sept 5, 1979
First Flight
27th August 1934: Shielded yesteryear an umbrella, Sir Ofori Atta, Paramount Chief of the Akyem Abuakwa nation inward Gold Coast after his showtime flying at the East Anglian Aero Club, Albridge, Essex. The airplane pilot Colonel Julian, known inward America every bit the Black Eagle is on the left. (Photo yesteryear Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Source Kweku Darko Ankrah (http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.de/)
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