Komla Agbeli Gbedemah

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The British Queen Elizabeth II greets Ms. Gbedemah at the British Industrial Fair in Birmingham in 1953. In the center of the picture, the then Minister for Industry and Trade of the British Colony of Gold Coast: Komla Agbeli Gbedemah.
Hilger van Scherpenberg receives the Ghanaian Finance Minister Komla Agbeli Gbedemah (left) for the signing of the development aid agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany. (1959)

Komla Agbeli Gbedemah (born June 17, 1912 - September 8, 1998 ) was a leading politician in Ghana . He held several ministerial offices and was the founder of the National Alliance of Liberals .

Career

Gbedemah was Minister (Minister of Finance and Minister of Health) in the Convention People's Party government under the first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah . He is also considered to be one of the leading politicians who helped establish the independent Ghana. After the military coup, which led to the leadership of the National Liberation Councils , Gbedemah founded the National Alliance of Liberals (NAL), which focused on representing the interests of the Ewe people . Gbedemah was removed shortly after the August 29, 1969 elections by the Supreme Court of his parliamentary seat, which he had won in those elections, on the basis of a conviction of serious financial crimes.

Others

Among other things, the New York Times reported on October 9, 1957 of a political scandal that also went through the press worldwide. Gbedemah was in his capacity as Ghanaian Treasury Secretary on a business trip to the USA when he wanted to stop at a restaurant in Dover, Delaware. In the restaurant, however, he was denied service due to his black skin. A political apology is said to have been made. This incident allegedly resulted in an invitation to breakfast with President Dwight D. Eisenhower . At this meeting, the reason for Gbedemah's stay was discussed. He informed the president that he had been commissioned by President Nkrumah to plan and organize the financing of the planned Volta reservoir . The then Vice President of the USA Richard Nixon was commissioned by Eisenhower to support the financial planning. Ultimately, the World Bank stepped in to finance the project.

Positions

  • political leader - People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (1991 -?)
  • Founder and Chairman - National Alliance of Liberals (NAL) (1969-1969)
  • Minister of Finance - Government of Ghana (Gold Coast) (1954-1961)
  • Minister for Trade and Industry - Government of Ghana (Gold Coast) (1952-1954)
  • Member of Parliament of the National Assembly, Ghana (1951-1969)
  • Minister of Health - Government of Ghana (1951-1952)
  • Manager and Editor - Accra Evening News (1949-?)
  • Vice Chairman - Convention People's Party (CPP) (1949 -?)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ghanaweb
  2. ^ The Volta River Project in Ghana, West Africa .
personal data
SURNAME Gbedemah, Komla Agbeli
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Ghanaian Minister of Finance, Health and Trade
DATE OF BIRTH June 17, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH Ghana
DATE OF DEATH September 8, 1998