Kwaku Boateng (politician)

Kwaku Boateng (c. 1926 – 1 May 2006) was a Ghanaian barrister, politician, Christian evangelist and cabinet minister.

The Honourable Kwaku Boateng
Minister for Education
In office 1964–1966
President	Kwame Nkrumah
Preceded by	Alfred Jonas Dowuona-Hammond
Minister for Interior
In office 1961–1964
President	Kwame Nkrumah
Preceded by	Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah
Succeeded by	Lawrence Rosario Abavana
Minister for Information
Personal details
Born	c. 1926
Died	1 May 2006 (aged 80) Cape Town
Nationality	Ghanaian
Political party	Convention People's Party
Spouse(s)	Mrs. Eleanor Boateng
Children	Paul Boateng Rosemary Boateng
Alma mater	King's College London
Profession	Barrister, Evangelist

Early life and education

Boateng was born to Opanin Acheampong and Madam Anima Acheampong of Old Tafo in the Akyem Abuakwa. He started schooling at the Old Tafo Primary School and continued at the Begoro Senior School for his middle school education. He entered Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast in 1941 and was there until 1944 when he was transferred to the Presbyterian Secondary School at Odumase Krobo where he received his Cambridge School Certificate. He proceeded to Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1948 but left in 1949 and enrolled at King's College London University. He graduated in 1954 obtaining his Bachelor of Laws Degree and was called to the English Bar at Gray's Inn in 1955. He was called to the Ghana Bar later that year and subsequently entered La Chambers as a junior practitioner. He began his own private practice in 1956 and remained in private practice until December that year when he was elected Member of Parliament for the Tafo constituency.[1]

Politics

Kwaku Boateng was a member of the Convention People's Party and served in various capacities in the Nkrumah government. He was Information Minister[2] and in 1961, became Interior Minister.[3] He was Education Minister under Kwame Nkrumah from May 1964.[4][5][6][7]

Exile

After the 24 February 1966 coup d'état by the National Liberation Council, he along with other members of the government went into exile. He went to the United Kingdom with his family.[8]

Other activities

While Minister of Education, He opened the Bible House, headquarters of the Bible Society of Ghana on behalf of Kwame Nkrumah in 1965. He was a trustee of the Bible Society until his death.[9] Towards the end of his political career, Boateng became an evangelist.[10]

Family

Paul Boateng, a British Labour politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, is his son. Kwaku Boateng's wife was Mrs. Eleanor Boateng who was Scottish. His brothers are Andrew Boateng, of New York, and Francis Boateng, Lieutenant of the Los Angeles Police Department (in the Commercial Crimes Division). In the early 1950s, Kwaku Boateng had an affair with a young woman, bearing him a son Isaac Boateng.

Death

Kwaku Boateng died on 1 May 2006 at Paul's home in Cape Town, South Africa during Paul's stint as High Commissioner to South Africa. He was 80 years old.[10]

References

1. 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. 65.
2. "SOVIET FILMS FOR GHANA; Official Urges They Be Used as Solution to Censorship". The New York Times. December 24, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
3. R.L. Bidwell, ed. (1974-02-25). Bidwell's Guide to Government Ministers: The British Empire and Successor, 1900-72. Routledge. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7146-3017-5. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
4. "New Courts Are Set Up by Nkrumah". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. October 30, 1961. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
5. "Ghana Purges Political Foes". Daily Collegian. 1961-10-31. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
6. Walker, Tim (9 November 2008). "Paul Boateng 4 PM". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2010. In 2002, shortly before his death, Boateng senior said ...
7. "Article 1 -- No Title". The New York Times. May 2, 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
8. "Paul Boateng: First Black British Minister". General News. Ghana Home Page. 2002-05-29. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
9. "BIBLE HOUSE IN ACCRA OPENED". Bible Society of Ghana. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
10. "Kwaku Boateng Passes Away". Ghana Home Page. 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2010-06-13.

See also

• Nkrumah government
• Convention People's Party