Kwesi Armah

Kwesi Armah (wey dem born am 21 September 1929"Armah, Kwesi", Africa Year Book and Who's Who 1977, London: Africa Journal Limited, 1976, p. 1063. – he die 24 November 2006) be Ghanaian politician plus diplomat. He serve as High Commissioner (Ambassador) to de Court of St. James for London, England, den Minister of Foreign Trade under Kwame Nkrumah ein government before de military coup wey happen for 1966. Later, he serve for Council of State insyd John Kufuor ein government.

 Role insyd de Vietnam War 
Wen he dey serve as High Commissioner, Armah lead delegation of diplomats wey Nkrumah send go Vietnam for 1965 make dem build relationship plus de government for Hanoi after dem reject one Commonwealth Peace Mission wey dem propose earlier dat year. Dat mission end wen President Ho Chi Minh personally thank de delegation plus Nkrumah for demma concern, but he still reject de proposed mission as one American-driven "negotiated settlement" wey he call say e be "fraudulent and sinister".

Even though dem reject am, Nkrumah still get strong mind say he go involve einsef for de conflict, so for February 1966 he lead anoda delegation plus Armah go Vietnam. But as dem dey on dis mission, military forces inside Ghana do coup d'état while de leaders no dey. Armah no fit come back Ghana again, so he turn exile, den de military forces target ein family put dem for house arrest. As Armah land back for London, Ghana try make dem extradite am go back say he misuse £30,000 government money. But de UK Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, talk say Ghana bring de charges because of political reasons, so he refuse de extradition under de Fugitive Offenders Act. Even though dem free Armah, dem still try am for de Old Bailey, but later dem clear am of all charges. Armah no see ein family for two years until dem too get release from house arrest den return go demma home for England.

 Leadership den coup 
Nkrumaist political party dem no dey allowed again till dem establish Ghana ein Third Republic, wey Jerry Rawlings make e happen after e lead de Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) coup for June 1979. Armah come turn leader for de People's National Party (PNP), wey come win power insyd de first—and only—election for dat republic, wey carry Hilla Limann go presidency. But just two years later, Rawlings do anoda coup wey overthrow de Limann government. Rawlings then create de Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), wey start dey run Public Tribunals wey dem talk say no go be “fettered by legal technicalities.” Armah plus two other PNP leaders come chop charges say dem bribe some former AFRC officers, den dem jail am seven years for corruption. Dem still detain am again for 1991 under “national security” reasons after e write one article for Christian Chronicle wey criticize de PNDC government. Dem no carry am go court till after three months.

 Death 
Kwesi Armah die for Accra on 24 November 2006. He marry den get five kiddies, insyd dem be de writer den analyst Esther Armah.

 Publications 

 Africa's Golden Road, Heinemann Educational Books, 1965
 Ghana: Nkrumah's Legacy, London: Rex Collings, 1974
 Peace without Power: Ghana's Foreign Policy 1957-1966, Ghana Universities Press, 2004. 

 References 

Category:1929 births
Category:2006 deaths
Category:Human
Category:Ghanaians
Category:High commissioners of Ghana to de United Kingdom
Category:People's National Party (Ghana) politicians
Category:Ghana National College alumni
Category:Members of de Council of State (Ghana)
Category:Convention People's Party (Ghana) politicians