Kwame Sanaa-Poku Jantuah
Encyclopedia
Kwame Sanaa-Poku Jantuah (originally known as John Ernest Kwame Antoa Onyina Jantuah was a former Ghanaian politician
and diplomat
. He was the last survivor from the first all-African cabinet set up by Kwame Nkrumah
in the Gold Coast
prior to independence
.
Jantuah was born at Kejetia, a suburb of Kumasi
, in the Ashanti Region
of Ghana
. When he was baptised on 19 May 1934, he was given the Christian names John and Ernest at the St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kumasi. In 1936, he proceeded to the St. Theres's Junior Seminary at Amissano, near Elmina for training. He was known formally as John Ernest Jantuah until 21 December 1962 when he changed his name to Kwame Sanaa-Poku Jantuah. He was one of many Ghanaians to receive national awards on 6 July 2007 in Accra.
He served as the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in the 1950s, the first resident Ambassador to France and the Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic in the late 1980s during the PNDC
era. He was also the ambassador to Brazil during the Nkrumah
era.
Jantuah served as a cabinet minister in the Nkrumah government
of the first republic and as the Interior Minister during the Limann government
.
Jantuah died after a short illness in Accra on 3rd February 2011.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He was the last survivor from the first all-African cabinet set up by Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
in the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
prior to independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
.
Jantuah was born at Kejetia, a suburb of Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, in the Ashanti Region
Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000,...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. When he was baptised on 19 May 1934, he was given the Christian names John and Ernest at the St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kumasi. In 1936, he proceeded to the St. Theres's Junior Seminary at Amissano, near Elmina for training. He was known formally as John Ernest Jantuah until 21 December 1962 when he changed his name to Kwame Sanaa-Poku Jantuah. He was one of many Ghanaians to receive national awards on 6 July 2007 in Accra.
He served as the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in the 1950s, the first resident Ambassador to France and the Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic in the late 1980s during the PNDC
Provisional National Defence Council
The Provisional National Defence Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7,...
era. He was also the ambassador to Brazil during the Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
era.
Jantuah served as a cabinet minister in the Nkrumah government
Nkrumah government
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the first Prime Minister and first President of Ghana.-Nkrumah's first independence government :Nkrumah had run governments under the supervision of the British government through Charles Arden-Clarke, the Governor-General. His first government under colonial rule started...
of the first republic and as the Interior Minister during the Limann government
Limann government
This is a listing of the ministers who served in Limann's People's National Party government during the Third Republic of Ghana. The Third Republic was inaugurated on 24 September 1979. It ended with the coup on 31 December 1981, which brought the Provisional National Defence Council of Jerry...
.
Jantuah died after a short illness in Accra on 3rd February 2011.