Ako Adjei

**Ako Adjei** (17 June 1916 – 14 January 2002), na he be a Ghanaian statesman, politician, lawyer den journalist. Na he be a member of de United Gold Coast Convention den one of six leaders wey na dem detain during Ghana ein struggle for political independence from Britain, a group dem famously call The Big Six. Na Adjei cam be a member of parliament as a Convention People's Party candidate insyd 1954 wey na he hold ministerial offices til 1962 wen as Minister for Foreign Affairs dem wrongfully detain am for de Kulungugu bomb attack.

Dem born am insyd Adjeikrom, a small village insyd de Akyem Abuakwa area, na Ako Adjei get ein tertiary education insyd de United States den de United Kingdom. After ein studies abroad, he return home make he join de movement of Gold Coast ein struggle for political independence by joining de United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) as a founding member. Na Ako Adjei be instrumental in introducing Kwame Nkrumah into Ghana ein political scene wen na he recommend am for de full time post of Organising Secretary of de UGCC.

Dey follow Ghana ein Independence, na Ako Adjei serve insyd chaw political portfolios wey dey include he be de first Minister for Interior den Justice give de newly born nation, Ghana. He sanso cam be Ghana ein first Minister of Foreign Affairs wen na dem change de portfolio from Minister for External Affairs to Minister for Foreign Affairs insyd May 1961. Na Ako Adjei ein political career however be precluded after ein detention for allegedly plotting make he assassinate de then presido Kwame Nkrumah insyd de Kulungugu bomb attack insyd 1962.

After ein release insyd 1966, na Ako Adjei spend de rest of ein life insyd relative obscurity. Na he remain unseen anaa unheard insyd de Ghanaian national den political discourse. Na he resolve to focus on ein family den ein career as a legal practitioner. Insyd 1992 na he publish a biography of de Ghanaian businessman den statesman George Grant. Insyd 1997 na dem award am de Order of the Star of Ghana award – de highest national award of de Republic of Ghana, for ein contribution to de struggle for Ghana ein independence. Ako Adjei die after a short illness insyd 2002.

## Early life den education

### Gold Coast
Na dem born Ako Adjei on 17 June 1916 insyd Adjeikrom insyd Akyem Abuakwa land. Adjeikrom be a small farming community insyd de Eastern Region of Ghana (then de Gold Coast). Na ein poppie be Samuel Adjei, a farmer den trader, wey Ako Adjei ein place of birth dem think e be named after, wey na ein mommie be Johanna Okaile Adjei. Na both parents be from La, a settlement near de coastal sea at Accra. Na he get chaw bros den sistos buh na he be de youngest of ein poppie ein kiddies.

### United States
Insyd January 1939, na he arrive at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania to de welcam of K. A. B. Jones-Quartey, a student wey komot de Gold Coast whom na Ako Adjei know secof ein work plus de *Accra Morning Post*. Na Jones-Quartey be accompanied make he welcam am by anoda Gold Coast student wey na dem introduce as Francis Nwia Kofi Nkrumah (Kwame Nkrumah). At Lincoln University na he be housed at Houston Hall wey na he play football (soccer) give de university. Na he register for courses insyd Political Science, Economics, Sociology, English, Latin den Philosophy.

### United Kingdom
Na Ako Adjei move go de United Kingdom make ge pursue ein childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. Na ein teaching job at de Fisk University provide am finances make he enroll at de Inner Temple insyd early May 1944. Even though na he save enough to begin de course na he need more money make he plete am. Na ein poppie lease a small family house wey locate at de Post Office Lane insyd Accra to a Lebanese merchant for £10 a year for fifty (50) years wey na he take thirty (30) years ein rent in advance. Na ein poppie die before na dem plete de negotiations so na he den ein bros for sign de papers before na de Lebanese merchant bia de sum of £300.

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