Joseph Henry Mensah

Joseph Henry Mensah
Finance Minister
In office
1969–1972
President Kofi Abrefa Busia
In office
2001–2006
President John Agyekum Kufuor
Member of Parliament
for Sunyani East
In office
7 January 1997 – 6 January 2009
Personal details
Born (1928-10-31)31 October 1928
Gold Coast
Died 12 July 2018(2018-07-12) (aged 89)
Accra, Ghana
Relations
Occupation

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

Education

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

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.[18] 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.[18] He also served on the African Advisory Council of the African Development Bank from 1993 to 1997.[19] 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.[20][21] 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.[22]

Personal life and family

He was the older brother of the former First Lady, Theresa Kufuor.[23]

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.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] 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.[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Joseph Henry Mensah, New Patriotic Party Founding Member". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  2. ↑ "J.H. Mensah dies at 89". Graphic Online. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  3. ↑ "President Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, ex presidents pay last respects to late J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  4. ↑ "J.H. Mensah loved democracy profoundly – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  5. ↑ "JH Mensah was a brilliant economist – Minority". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  6. ↑ "Veteran politician J.H Mensah has died". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  7. ↑ "JH Mensah was Ghana's best economist – Bawumia". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  8. ↑ "DOSSIER: J.H Mensah is dead". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  9. ↑ "J.H. Mensah unmatched – Ofori-Atta". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  10. ↑ "Learn from J. H. Mensah if you want to succeed – OB Amoah to MPs". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  11. ↑ "NPP mourns J.H Mensah, directs all party flags to fly at half-mast". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  12. ↑ "J.H. Mensah left an 'indelible mark' – Rawlings". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  13. ↑ "Parliament eulogises J.H. Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  14. ↑ "How J.H Mensa tried to save the Progress Party Government of 1969-72". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  15. ↑ "J.H. Mensah, the granddaddy of UP/NPP passes on at 89". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  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 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  18. 1 2 Daniel Miles McFarland, Historical Dictionary of Ghana, Scarecrow Press, 1995, p. 121
  19. ↑ "J.H Mensah was a great Ghanaian politician and a statesman". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  20. ↑ "Parliament approves new Majority Leader". modernghana.com. October 16, 2001. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Parliament breaks for JH Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  22. ↑ "Rawlings wishes J.H. Mensah peaceful rest". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  23. 1 2 "Profile of the late Joseph Henry Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  24. ↑ "Selfless J. H. Mensah helped affirm my convictions – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  25. ↑ "J.H. Mensah to get state burial on August 17". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  26. ↑ "JH Mensah's Demise: I've lost trusted Counsellor – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  27. ↑ "10 things to know about JH Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  28. ↑ "MPs eulogize late J.H. Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  29. ↑ "J.H. Mensah will be duly honoured – Akufo-Addo promises as he mourns late statesman". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  30. ↑ "J. H. Mensah's Death: Family unhappy with media for breaking news". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  31. ↑ "State burial for J.H. Mensah on August 17". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  32. ↑ "J.H Mensah died a pauper – Ambassador D.K Osei". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  33. ↑ "Kofi Annan's tribute to late J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  34. ↑ "President, many others bid J.H. Mensah farewell". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  35. ↑ "JH Mensah goes home today". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  36. ↑ "J.H. Mensah loved democracy profoundly - Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  37. ↑ "Stop wasteful 1-week death anniversary – Palmer-Buckle". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  38. ↑ "Stop flamboyant funerals; bury the dead in a week – Palmer-Buckle". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  39. ↑ "Senior government officials, NPP, NDC bigwigs attend burial service of J.H Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  40. ↑ "Let's spend on the living not the dead – Palmer-Buckle to Ghanaians". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  41. ↑ "J.H Mensah's demise: I've lost trusted Counsellor – Akufo-Addo". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
Political offices
Preceded by
Akwasi Afrifa		 Minister for Finance1
(NLC)
? – ?		 Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
?		 Minister for Finance
1969 – 1972		 Succeeded by
Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
Preceded by
?		 Minister and Leader of Government Business
2001 – 2003		 Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Albert Kan Dapaah		 Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme
2003 – 2005		 Succeeded by
Paa Kwesi Nduom
Preceded by
New Position		 Senior Minister
2005 – 2006		 Succeeded by
abolished
Parliament of Ghana
Preceded by
Parliament suspended		 Member of Parliament
1969 – 1972		 Succeeded by
Parliament suspended
Preceded by
Ato Quarshie		 Member of Parliament for Sunyani East
1997 – 2009		 Succeeded by
Kwasi Ameyaw-Cherimeh
Notes and references
1. STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS (SAPS) IN GHANA: INTERROGATING PNDC's IMPLEMENTATION ISSN 1525-4488
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