Auto-Biography

Soon the biography will be read and exaggerated tributes paid. And so, allow me to put down the facts of my life without an embellishment which will make me blush and turn in my grave. Let me put the records straight by admitting that I have done many of the things young men would not be proud to talk about. The wise thing I did in life was to choose my parents well.

And so, it was that I was born at Accra at 2:30pm on Wednesday March 26 1924 to Kweku Asante of Aduamoa Kwahu and Mercy Odorso Amoo of Otublohum, Accra. I had a happy childhood and good education with all my brothers and sisters thanks to the ability and hard work of my father who became Provincial Surveyor of the Eastern Province not Eastern Region and also thanks to the industry and devotion of my mother. 

I attended government schools at Adabraka and Rowe Road (now Kinbu) before entering Achimota College in 1938. After Achimota I took a degree in mathematics at Durham University, England and studied statistics in London. What I have done since school may be summarized as follows:

- Assistant Master Achimota College, 1945-1948

- Mathematics Master and later senior

- Mathematics Master and Staff Representative

  on the Achimota College Council, 1953-1956

-Third Secretary British Embassy Ankara and

  Consular Attaché Istanbul, 1956-1957

Career in the Ghana Foreign Service began with the position of second secretary in the high Commission, London after which I opened the Ghana Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel as Charge d’Affaires.

Back home in 1960 I worked under President Nkrumah in Flagstaff house and became principal secretary of the African Affairs Secretariat., where I helped to formulate and execute Ghana’s dynamic African Policy. It was hard work but exciting, enjoyable and fulfilling.

I was during this period involved in many affairs of state. Honesty demands that I state that I was a Director of Ghana Airways from 1961-1967 and cannot escape some responsibility for the present parlous state of the company. I must add that for years I was not aware of the advantages one enjoyed as a Director. 

I left for Ghana of Addis Ababa three weeks before the coup of 1966. President Nkrumah send me there to assist Diallo Telli the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in the quest for real African Unity. Because of the coup, I joined the OAU as Head of Administration. 

In 1967 I was invited home by General Ankrah, the head of the NATIONAL LIBERATION Council.

I was appointed ambassador to Switzerland and Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN office in Geneva. That meant I had to look after Ghana’s interest in Switzerland and Austria and also at UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development), UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization), IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), WHO (World Health Organization), ILO (International Labour Organization) etc. It also meant leading the Ghana Delegation at the Economic of Second Committee of the UN General Assembly. Positions held during this period include, President of UNCTAD 1968- 70, President of UNIDO 1970, President of the UN Narcotics Conference 1972. Leader of the Ghana Delegation to the Conferences leading to the international Cocoa Agreement. 

I was also leader of the Ghana Delegation to the first conference on the Environment at Stockholm in 1972.

Back home in 1972 I became briefly, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later, on the person invitation of General Acheampong, the Deputy Secretary to the National Redemption Council (NRC) and posted to the Ministry of Trade and Tourism as senior Principal Secretary. 

It was exciting helping to formulate and implement an import Programme to underpin the economy of the country with Dr. Donkor Fordwour and the late Dr. Amon Nikoi while Dr. J.L.S Abbey assisted with his statistical expertise. 

Other assignments during this period included chairmanship of a Committee to advise on relationship with the European Economic Community, and on Regional Co-operation and integration. Leading the Ghana Delegation to the meeting of West African states on regional integration. I was elected chairman of the Committee which drafter the Ecowas Treaty. 

It was stimulating to serve on the Tourist Board with brilliant young men like Edward Pianim and to work with a man of ideas like Kofi Annan now Secretary General of the UN as the Managing Director of the Tourist Development company. Tourist development was to be promoted by Ghana Airways Airtours of which I was chairman and which made handsome profits before I left for Brussels. 

In 1976, I became Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Economic Community. During my chairmanship of the Committee of Ambassadors of the (ACP) African Caribbean and Pacific Group, I helped the ACP to acquire its own office in Brussels. I also led the Ambassadors at the opening of the negotiations for the successor to the Lomé convention. 

Not satisfied with the way policies were formulated and implemented I decided to retire early and go into politics. I was instrumental in the formation of the SDF (Social Democratic Front) and became its Secretary General. 

The SDF performed badly but it won three seats in Parliament in the 1979 elections. I continued to work at the TUC and the parliamentary office to keep the front alive and strengthen it.

The December 31, 1981 coup saw me as the first secretary (minister) of Trade and Industry. I did not last long. I was sacked on radio after a few months. I went to Europe to lick my wounds and to save me from opening my mouth wide as I often do and then getting into trouble. 

On my return I accepted, against advice, the position of Secretary for Education and Culture. I did my best but did not satisfy everybody, and so in 1990 I was appointed High Commissioner to the Court of St. James in London. 

Back home, I returned to work in areas, which give me pleasure. I resumed my love affair with Achimota. I was President of the Old Achimotan Association and Chairman of the Achimota School Board for many years. At present I am chairman of the Achimota School Endowment Trust Fund.

I played a role in the formation of La Community Bank which is doing very well and of which I am the acting chairman. The banks success gives me enormous satisfaction. 

Other roles played in retirement include chairmanship of the Board of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, which is now offering a degree course, thanks to the devotion of Board members during my tenure of office and the cooperation of Vice-Chancellor Addae-Mensah and his colleagues at the University of Ghana. 

I find the Presidency of the Ga Dangme Council challenging but to champion the cause of justice for a great people cannot but give immense satisfaction. 

I am privileged to be of service to the Anglian Diocese of Accra. I am a Synod member and chairman of its Board of education as well as member of other committees. I consider myself lucky to be still a useful member of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints Anglican Church Adabraka. 

There are many who do a great deal for the nation and yet pass away unnoticed and unsung. I am one of the lucky few. I am a recipient of the Grand Medal (GM) and also the MOV.

The University of Ghana has graciously conferred on me a LLD degree, and only this year I was made the proud recipient of an Honourary Doctor of Letters Degree of the University of Development Studies. 

I could not have achieved all these without a congenial home. My wife has been good and all my children worked hard to gain entrance to the great school Achimota, obtain University degrees and lead useful lives. Inspite of my complaints and annoyance now and again I feel in my sober moments that I could not have asked for a better home and family.

I consider myself extremely lucky and have a good reason to give thanks to the most High for his great blessings.