John Arthur (Ghanaian politician)

John Arthur was a Ghanaian politician. He served as minister of state and a member of parliament during the first republic. He was a regional commissioner (Regional Minister) for the Western Region[3] and a member of parliament for the Sekondi electoral district.

John Arthur
Regional Commissioner for the Western Region[1]
In office
1960–1965
PresidentDr. Kwame Nkrumah
Succeeded byStephen Willie Yeboah
Member of Parliament for Sekondi[2]
In office
1954 – February 1966
PresidentKwame Nkrumah
Preceded byJonathan Kwesi Lamptey
Succeeded byJonathan Kwesi Lamptey
Personal details
Born
John Arthur

(1915-02-04)4 February 1915
Anomabo, Central Region
CitizenshipGhanaian

Early life and education

Arthur was born on 4 February 1915 at Anomabo in the Central Region of Ghana (then Gold Coast). He was educated at the Anomabo Wesleyan School where he obtained his Standard 7 Certificate.[4][5]

Career and politics

Arthur begun his career as an employee at the Union Trading Company as a clerk in 1934. He worked there for a couple of years and moved to the Central Wassaw Gold Mines. He worked there as a clerk as well. In 1937 he left and joined the Gold Coast Machinery and Trading Company at Sekondi. He worked there until 1944 when he was transferred to the United Africa Company Limited. In 1950 he participated actively in a general strike that led to his dismissal in 1950.

He went into private business afterwards, acquiring a quarry from the chief of Essipong and also a lumber business.[4][5] Arthur was elected a member of parliament on 15 June 1954. After his election into parliament he handed over his businesses to his cousins; he handed over the lumber business to his cousin the late W. B. Hayford and the quarry business to his cousin one Mr. Isaac Hayford. He served as a member of parliament for Sekondi electoral district until June 1956 when parliament was dissolved.

He was re-elect and returned to parliament during the 1956 elections. He remained a member of parliament for Sekondi since then until February 1966 when the Nkrumah government was overthrown. In 1956 he was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary (ministerial secretary or deputy minister)[5] and in that capacity he served in various ministries until 1960 when he was appointed Regional Commissioner for the Western Region.[6][7] He held this position from 1960 until 1965 when he was moved to the Cocoa Products Corporation as its chairman.

Personal life

Arthur married Madam Ekua Mensimah in 1936. Together, they had three children. Arthur married a second wife; Grace Moses with whom he had three children with as well.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Ghana Year Book". Graphic Corporation. 1961: 12. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "Debates". Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1956: 209. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Ghana News, Volumes 8". Ghana. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 1964: 126. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Sowah, E. N. P (1968). Report of the Sowah Commission : appointed under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1964 (Act 250) and N.L.C. Investigation and Forfeiture of Assests Decree, 1966 N.L.C.D. 72 to enquire into the assests of specified persons. p. 41.
  5. "Ghana Year Book". Graphic Corporation. 1957: 162. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "West African directory". T. Skinner, London. 1964: 81. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "Parliamentary Debates; National Assembly Official Report". Accra, Government printing department. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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