Joseph Henry Mensah

Joseph Henry Mensah (31 October 1928 – 12 July 2018)[1][2] was a Ghanaian politician and economist.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Hon. Joseph Henry Mensah
Prime Minister	Kofi Abrefa Busia
Member of the Ghana Parliament for Sunyani East
In office 7 January 2005 – 6 January 2009
President	John Kufuor
Minister and Leader of Government Business Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme Senior minister Member of Parliament for Sunyani East Constituency
In office 7 January 2001 – 6 January 2005
President	John Kufuor
Member of Parliament for Sunyani East Constituency
In office 7 January 1997 – 6 January 2001
Finance Minister
In office 1969–1972
President	Edward Akufo-Addo
Preceded by	Emmanuel Noi Omaboe
Succeeded by	Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
Personal details
Born	31 October 1928 Gold Coast
Died	12 July 2018 (aged 89) Accra, Ghana
Resting place	Military Cemetery, Burma Camp, Accra, Ghana
Nationality	Ghanaian
Political party	New Patriotic Party
Relations	Theresa Kufuor (sister) John Kufuor (brother-in-law)
Alma mater	University of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana) Achimota School University of London Stanford University
Profession	Economist Politician

Education

In his early education, J. H. Mensah attended Achimota School. He proceeded to the University of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana) between 1948 and 1954. He then headed to the University of London and Stanford University, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree respectively with a specialization in economic theory and development. In 1954, Mensah became a Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Ghana, a position he held until 1958.[1]

Political career

Mensah began working as an assistant inspector of taxes in 1953 while the Gold Coast was still under colonial rule.[9][10] In 1958, Mensah joined the United Nations Secretariat at the Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies, in New York City, United States.[11] Mensah returned to Ghana in 1961 as the Head of Agency at the National Planning Commission.[12] The National Planning commission drew and implemented the country's Seven-Year Development Plan (1963/64–1969/70).[13] In 1969, he was elected to parliament and became the Finance minister in the Busia government until 1972,[1][14][15] when he was replaced by future head of state Ignatius Kutu Acheampong after the military coup d'état.[16][17]

Elections

Mensah represented the Sunyani East constituency in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th parliaments of the republic of Ghana.[18]

2000 Elections

In the year 2000, Mensah won the Ghanaian general elections as the member of parliament in the 3rd parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana for the Sunyani East constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. He won on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. His constituency was a part of the 14 parliamentary seats out of 21 seats won by the New Patriotic Party in that election for the Brong Ahafo Region.[19][20] The New Patriotic Party won a majority total of 100 parliamentary seats out of 200 seats in the 3^rd parliament of the 4^th republic of Ghana.[19] He was elected with 27,756 votes out of 43,128 total valid votes cast.[21] This was equivalent to 65.1% of the total valid votes cast. He was elected over Capt.(rtd) F. Adu Kwaku Nkrumah of the National Democratic Congress, Shiekh Mustapha Abdulah of the Convention People’s Party, Moses Owusu -Yeboah of the People’s National Convention, Boachie Amankwa of the United Ghana Movement and Boniface Kojo Mensah of the National Reform Party. These won 11,550, 1,269, 1,039, 592 and 427 votes respectively out of the total valid votes cast. These were equivalent to 27.1%, 3.0%, 2.4%, 1.4% and 1.0% respectively of total valid votes cast.[21][22]

2004 Elections

He was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Sunyani East constituency for the 4th parliament in the 2004 Ghanaian general elections.[23][24] He was elected with 32,035 votes out of 53,972 total valid votes cast.[23][24] This was equivalent to 59.40% of total valid votes cast.[23][24] He was elected over Justice Samuel Adjei of the National Democratic Congress, Cubagee Raphael – an independent candidate, Rev. Nana Adjei-Ntow – also an independent candidate, Theophilus Kwame Chartey of the Convention People’s Party, Awuah Philip of the Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere Party and A. A. Boasiako of the Democratic People’s Party.[23][24] These obtained 17,860 votes, 1,478 votes, 998 votes, 674 votes, 581votes and 346 votes respectively out of the total valid votes cast.[23][24] These were equivalent to 33.10%, 2.70%, 1.80%, 1.20%, 1.10% and 0.60% of all total valid votes cast.[23][24] Mensah was elected on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.[23][24] His constituency was a part of 14 out of 24 constituencies won by the New Patriotic Party in the Brong Ahafo region in that election.[25][26] In all, the New Patriotic Party won a majority total of 128 parliamentary representation out of a total 230 parliamentary seats in the 4th Parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana.[25]

Post Coup

Beginning in 1974, Mensah worked in the private sector both in Ghana and abroad.[1] He was imprisoned by the National Redemption Council from 1975 to 1978. Although banned from political activity in 1979, he was active for the Popular Front Party in the 1979 elections.[27] He also served as Chairman of the Sunyani District Council in Brong-Ahafo Region (1979–1981), and proprietor of Banka Farms. Exiled in England, in 1983 he headed a group opposing the PNDC.[27] He also served on the African Advisory Council of the African Development Bank from 1993 to 1997.[28] In December 1996, Mensah contested a parliamentary seat in the Sunyani East constituency as a member of the New Patriotic Party, which he won. He was re-elected in 2000. Prior to John Kufuor's election in 2001, Mensah was the Minority Leader in Parliament from 1997 to 2001.[29][30] In addition, he served as Minister and Leader of Government Business from 2001 to 2003; Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme from 2003 to 2005 as well as Senior Minister from 2005 to 2006 all during the Kufuor-led administration.[31]

Personal life and family

He was the older brother of the former First Lady, Theresa Kufuor.[32]

Death and state funeral

J. H. Mensah died on Thursday 12 July 2018 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after a protracted illness, having suffered a stroke a year earlier.[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] He was accorded a state funeral by the Government of Ghana on Friday 17 August 2018 at the Accra International Conference Centre and buried at the new Military Cemetery at Burma Camp.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]

References

1. "Joseph Henry Mensah, New Patriotic Party Founding Member". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
2. "J.H. Mensah dies at 89". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
3. "President Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, ex presidents pay last respects to late J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
4. "J.H. Mensah loved democracy profoundly – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
5. "JH Mensah was a brilliant economist – Minority". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
6. "Veteran politician J.H Mensah has died". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
7. "JH Mensah was Ghana's best economist – Bawumia". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
8. "DOSSIER: J.H Mensah is dead". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
9. "J.H. Mensah unmatched – Ofori-Atta". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
10. "Learn from J. H. Mensah if you want to succeed – OB Amoah to MPs". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
11. "NPP mourns J.H Mensah, directs all party flags to fly at half-mast". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
12. "J.H. Mensah left an 'indelible mark' – Rawlings". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
13. "Parliament eulogises J.H. Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
14. "How J.H Mensa tried to save the Progress Party Government of 1969-72". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
15. "J.H. Mensah, the granddaddy of UP/NPP passes on at 89". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
16. Turner, B. The Statesman's Yearbook 2007: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World, Springer, 2017, ISBN 0230271359
17. "NPP mourns J.H. Mensah; party flags to fly at half mast". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
18. "Joseph Henry Mensah, New Patriotic Party Founding Member". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
19. "Statistics of Presidential and Parliamentary Election Results". Fact Check Ghana. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
20. FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2000 Results - Brong Ahafo Region". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
21. Electoral Commission of Ghana - Parliamentary Result-Election 2000. Ghana: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. 2007. p. 14.
22. FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Sunyani East Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
23. Peace FM. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Sunyani East Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
24. Elections 2004; Ghana's Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. Ghana: Electoral Commission of Ghana; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. 2005. p. 136.
25. "Statistics of Presidential and Parliamentary Election Results". Fact Check Ghana. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
26. Peace FM. "Ghana Election 2004 Results - Brong Ahafo Region". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
27. McFarland, Daniel Miles (1995). Historical Dictionary of Ghana. Scarecrow Press. p. 121.
28. "J.H Mensah was a great Ghanaian politician and a statesman". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
29. "Parliament approves new Majority Leader". modernghana.com. 16 October 2001. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
30. "Parliament breaks for JH Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
31. "Rawlings wishes J.H. Mensah peaceful rest". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
32. "Profile of the late Joseph Henry Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
33. "Selfless J. H. Mensah helped affirm my convictions – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
34. "J.H. Mensah to get state burial on August 17". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
35. "JH Mensah's Demise: I've lost trusted Counsellor – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
36. "10 things to know about JH Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
37. "MPs eulogize late J.H. Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
38. "J.H. Mensah will be duly honoured – Akufo-Addo promises as he mourns late statesman". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
39. "J. H. Mensah's Death: Family unhappy with media for breaking news". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
40. "State burial for J.H. Mensah on August 17". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
41. "J.H Mensah died a pauper – Ambassador D.K Osei". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
42. "Kofi Annan's tribute to late J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
43. "President, many others bid J.H. Mensah farewell". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
44. "JH Mensah goes home today". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
45. "J.H. Mensah loved democracy profoundly - Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
46. "Stop wasteful 1-week death anniversary – Palmer-Buckle". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
47. "Stop flamboyant funerals; bury the dead in a week – Palmer-Buckle". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
48. "Senior government officials, NPP, NDC bigwigs attend burial service of J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
49. "Let's spend on the living not the dead – Palmer-Buckle to Ghanaians". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
50. "J.H Mensah's demise: I've lost trusted Counsellor – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.

External links

• Joseph Henry Mensah at African People Database