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Kwaku Boateng (1925/1926 – 1 May 2006) was a Ghanaian politician and barrister who was a state minister in the First Republic.

Early life and education

Kwaku Boateng was born to Opanin Acheampong and Madam Anima Acheampong of Old Tafo in Akyem Abuakwa, Gold Coast. 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 transferred to the Presbyterian Secondary School at Odumase Krobo and there received his Cambridge School Certificate. Boateng 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 he 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.

Boateng began his own law practice in 1956 and remained in private practice until December that year, when he was elected Member of Parliament for the Tafo constituency.

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 and, in 1961, became Interior Minister. He was Education Minister under Kwame Nkrumah from May 1964.

Exile

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

Other activities

While Minister of Education, Boateng 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. Towards the end of his political career, Boateng became an evangelist.

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. Kwaku Boateng and J. B. Danquah were related by marriage.

Death

Kwaku Boateng died on 1 May 2006, aged 80, at his son Paul's home in Cape Town, South Africa, during Paul's stint as High Commissioner to South Africa.

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 Assets Decree, 1966 N.L.C.D. 72 to enquire into the assets 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.
11. "I knew my vision was limitless. I wanted to teach – Mr Frank B. Adu Jr". thevaultzmag. The Vaultz Magazine. 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.

See also

• Nkrumah government
• Convention People's Party

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