Michael Paul Ansah (31 October 1928 – 13 March 2005) was a Ghanaian politician and educationist. He served as member of parliament for the Akwamu constituency from 1965 to 1966 in the First Republic and member of parliament for the Mid-Volta constituency from 1979 to 1981 in the Third Republic.[2] He was Ghana’s Minister for Health from 1979 to 1981 and the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology from August 1981 to December 1981.[3][4]

Michael Paul Ansah
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology
In office
August 1981 – 31 December 1981
PresidentHilla Limann
Preceded byVincent W. Bulla[1]
Minister for Health
In office
September 1979 – August 1981
PresidentHilla Limann
Preceded byEmmanuel Evans Anfom
Succeeded byKwamena Ocran
Member of Parliament for Mid-Volta
In office
1979 – 31 December 1981
PresidentKwame Nkrumah
Preceded byJohn Kwabena Arjarquah
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Akwamu
In office
1965 – February 1966
Preceded byNew
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Michael Paul Ansah

(1928-10-31)31 October 1928
Anum, Eastern Region, Gold Coast
Died13 March 2005(2005-03-13) (aged 76)
CitizenshipGhanaian
Political party
Alma mater

Early life and education

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Ansah was born on 31 October 1928 in Anum, a town in the Eastern Region. He had his early education at the Mampong-Akwapim Primary School from 1935 to 1940. He had his middle school education at the Akropong-Akwapim Middle School and the Begoro Middle School from 1941 to 1942 and from 1942 to 1944 respectively. He entered the Presbyterian Secondary School (now Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School) in 1945 completing in 1949. He later had his post-secondary education at the Akropong Teacher Training College (now the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong) where he obtained his Teachers' Certificate 'A'. After a few years in the teaching profession he entered the University of Ghana, Legon graduating with a degree in history in 1959. He later read politics and anthropology at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana graduating in 1965. He was the first president and founder of the Students Historical Association at the University of Ghana he was also the founder and first secretary of the Akwamu Youth League in 1958 (now Akwamu Students Union).[5]

Career

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Ansah begun teaching at the Presbyterian Secondary School at Odumase Krobo until he was transferred to the Institute of Arts and Culture on 30 June 1962. In 1965, he was appointed headmaster of O'Reilly Secondary School.[5]

Politics

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In June 1965 Ansah was elected as member parliament for the Akwamu Constituency under the Convention Peoples Party regime.[6] He served in this capacity until February 1966 when the Nkrumah government was overthrown.

On 24 September 1979 when the third republic was ushered in, he entered parliament representing the Mid-Volta constituency on the ticket of the People's National Party where he was elected as Majority Leader and Leader of the House. That same year, he was appointed a Cabinet Minister under the Minister for Health and he remained in that post until he was moved to the Ministry for Industry, Science and Technology in 1981.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] He served in that capacity until the Limann government was ousted by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) on 31 December 1981.

Personal life and death

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Ansah's hobbies included gardening, playing lawn tennis and listening to music.[5] He was married to Dora Ansah (née Arjarquah), with whom he had 6 children.

Ansah died on 13 March 2005, at the age of 76.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Current World Leaders". Current World Leaders. International Academy at Santa Barbara: 336 and 435. 1981.
  2. ^ Parliamentary Debates; Official Report, Part 2. Ghana National Assembly. 1965. p. 815.
  3. ^ "Current World Leaders". Current World Leaders. International Academy at Santa Barbara: 741. 1981.
  4. ^ "Africa Research Bulletin". Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell: 5855. 1980.
  5. ^ a b c "Ghana Year Book 1966". Ghana Year Book 1966. Daily Graphic: 202. 1966.
  6. ^ "West Africa Annual, Issue 8". West Africa Annual. James Clarke: 79. 1965.
  7. ^ "Africa Research Bulletin". Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell: 5855. 1980.
  8. ^ "APS Bulletin, Issues 18-35". APS Bulletin. Africa Church Information Service: 70. 1980.
  9. ^ "News Bulletin - International Union of Food & Allied Workers' Associations". News Bulletin - International Union of Food & Allied Workers' Associations. International Union of Food & Allied Workers' Associations.: 36 1980.
  10. ^ Ohene, Elizabeth (1980-03-21). "ATTENTION KOFORIDUA MMA KUW CALLING". Daily Graphic. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  11. ^ "Background notes, Ghana". Background Notes, Ghana. Blackwell: 5. 1981.
  12. ^ "Economic Handbook of the World". Economic Handbook of the World. McGraw-Hill: 218. 1982. ISBN 9780070036925.
  13. ^ Overstreet, William; Banks, A. S. (1 January 1982). Political Handbook of the World, 1981. McGraw-Hill. p. 208. ISBN 9780070036291.
  14. ^ "Ghana News, Volumes 8-12". Ghana News. Washington, D.C. : Embassy of Ghana: 6. 1979.
  15. ^ "Classifieds". Daily Graphic. 13 March 2006. p. 42. Retrieved 6 April 2023.