Contributions of Ga-Dangmes to socio-economic & political development of Ghana

We are highlighting some of the achievements and contributions of Ga-Dangmes to the development of Ghana. It is acknowledged that other ethnic groups in Ghana have made significant contributions to Ghana’s development. However, the focus here in on Ga-Dangme.

ECONOMIC

1. Tetteh Quarshie brought cocoa beans to Ghana from Fernado
po in 1877. He planted the seeds at Mampong in 1879. Since
then cocoa export has been the backbone of Ghana’s economy.

2. Kwei Nungua: Kwei (Quaye) Nungua was an enterpreneur and a philantropist, who owned farms at Oyibi and Ofankor. He also owned fishing trawlers in the 1960’s and 1970’s .

Quaye Nungua was considered as the Best Famer in 1972/1973.
He contributed very significantly to education in Nungua and Ghana.

Quaye Nungua established the Nungua Secondary School. Prior to that, he had donated his building for Emergency Teacher Training, when the Gold Coast (now Ghana) was in need of trained teachers to meet the nation’s pendinng educational needs.

Quaye Nungua built and donated to the Nungua Presbyterian Church, the Nungua Presbyterian Middle School. The Nungua youth used to attend middle school at Teshie and Osu Salem.

When the Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC), came to Ghana in the 1970’s, Quaye Nungua donated his three-storey, six-apartment building to them for free for three years while they settle in Ghana; many were those who had their beginnings from there.

Quaye Nungua established the Quaye Nungua Preparatory School, which he donated to the Roman Catholic Church to become the Nungua Roman Catholic Primary School.

3. Nii Larbi Mensah II (a.k.a Ataa Ahia), Atofomantse of Nii Sempe Mensa stool:

Nii Larbi Mensah II owned and operated transport lorries that carried goods from the Tema Habour to Accra and interior parts of Ghana.

His tipper trucks supplied sand from Accra beaches and quarries to several building sites, both private and government.

He owned building material stores at Tudu, Accra. His business played a major role supplying building materials during the construction of the Ambassador Hotel in 1951; as well supplied gravel during the construction of Ring Road and other constructions in Accra .

He also supplied building materials to contractors such as Taylor Woodrow, A.G. Lang and had business dealings with R.T. Briscoe.

He owned a cocoa farm at Ashikensu.

Nii Larbi Mensah II was one of the major racing horse owners in Accra, and indeed, Ghana during his time. He was probably the only traditional ruler in Ghana during the 1940s, 1950s and the 1960s who owned racing horses.

Nii Larbi Mensah II’s business associates at his time include, Alhaji Norgan, Hon. Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Yaw Ginn, Darku Mpontima, C.C.K. Baah, Wiafe, Mr. Reibeiro (a.k.a Papa Owuratu, Racing horses owner, famous Jockey and trainer; as well as Asafoatse of the Gbese Mantse Stool in Accra), to name a few.

POLITICAL

1. In 1947, Dr.Ako Adjei, a Ga lawyer, recommended to the United Gold Coast Convention to appoint Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the Secretary General of the U.G.C.C. The post was originally offered to him, which he declined the offer and instead recommended Kwame Nkrumah for the post.

Later, Ako Adjei convinced Kwame Nkrumah to return to the Gold Coast from Britain to take up the post. Nkrumah returned to the Gold Coast in 1947.

2. In 1948, NII KWABENA BONNIE, Osu Alata Mantse, organised the total boycott of European exports and good in Ghana. He was supported by Kofi George Konuah, Richard Akwei, and Halm Addo, both GaDangmes.

3. Again, on February 28, 1948, two Ga-Dangmes, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey along with an Ewe, Coporal Attipoe shed their blood for Ghana at the Crossroad junction, Osu.

Sergeant Adjetey had led unarmed ex-servicemen to the Governor’s castle to submit a petition. They were shot dead.

The death of these three gallant and heroic Ghanaians led to looting of European goods and stores in Accra and elsewhere in Ghana.

4. Also, the support given in Ga lands by Ga Makola women, our fishermen and ordinary Ga-Dangmes to Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention Peoples’ Party played a vital role towards the attainment of Ghana’s political independence on March 6, 1957.

Names like Dedei Ashikinshan, Aunti Naa Amerle and many others should be remembered for their heroism, patriotism and the giant contributions they made toward Ghana’s political emancipation.

This page, and most likely, many Ga-Dangmes and Ghanaians, wish to thank all these gallant statesmen for their immense benevolent deeds and sacrifices made for Ghana, and indeed, Ga-Dangmes.

We pray that Ga-Dangme youths of today will emulate such efforts and great deeds.

To all of them we say, “nye yiwala donn”.