Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi-Lamptey (affectionately known as Liberty Lamptey,[1] 26 April 1902 – 29 January 1963)[2] was a political activist in the British colony of the Gold Coast. He was one of the founding fathers of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) known as "The Big Six".[3] He was the father of NPP politician Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey. He played a vital role in the Big Six. He was recognized for his leadership. He was bold, confident and inspired his people to have hope. His leadership role being played well brought a change to the political, economical and social standards required to pronounce Ghana as an independent country from its colonial masters.[4] Many argue that together with the rest of the big six with the exception of Dr. Nkrumah didn't contribute enough to the independence of Ghana to merit the recognition given them in present day Ghana.
Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi-Lamptey 26 April 1902 Ode, Accra, Gold Coast |
| Died | 29 January 1963 (aged 60) Accra, Ghana |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | The Big Six |
| Spouses |
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| Children | Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey |
| Relatives | Gottlieb Ababio Adom (step-brother) |
Early life
editHe was born on 26 April 1902 at a Ga village near Ode, a suburb of Accra. His father was Jacob Mills Lamptey, a businessman, and his mother was Victoria Ayeley Tetteh. His step-brother was Gottlieb Ababio Adom (1904–1979), an educator, journalist, editor and Presbyterian minister who served as the Editor of the Christian Messenger, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, from 1966 to 1970.[5]
Education
editHe attended the Accra Wesleyan School and further went to the Royal School.[1] He graduated LL.B., and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1939. By then, World War II (1939–45) had begun, to which he stayed and worked in England.[6][7]
Personal life
editEmmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey initially married a Dutch woman, Margaretha, with whom he had two sons: Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey[8] (a New Patriotic Party politician, television and radio producer and advertising businessman) and Nee Lamkwei Afadi Obetsebi-Lamptey.[9]
Obestebi-Lamptey later married a Ga woman, Augustina Akuorko Cofie (17 December 1923 – 14 November 2019), younger twin daughter of William Charles Cofie and Irene Odarchoe.[10] She was a co-founder of the Gold Coast Women's Association and a former tutor at the Accra Methodist Girls School from 1947 to 1953.[10] In 1970, she became the first Ghanaian woman to be appointed envoy to Liberia.[10] In the Greater Accra Region, she was involved in philanthropy in the women's prisons.[10] Obetsebi-Lamptey had two children with Cofie, Nah-Ayele and Nii Lante.[10]
Death
editObetsebi-Lamptey died after suffering from cancer.[1]
Legacy
editHis well-established legacy is reflected in Ghanaian History books, street names, and the Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange on the Ring Road West in Accra, Ghana.[11][12] A monument will be mounted in his memory after completion of the interchange.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Big Six of Ghana and their rich history". GhanaWeb. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Latitude.to. "GPS coordinates of Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Ghana. Latitude: 5.5568 Longitude: -0.2243". Latitude.to, maps, geolocated articles, latitude longitude coordinate conversion. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Ngnenbe, Timothy (4 August 2020). "Ghana pays tribute to founders' - Graphic Online". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Big Six Enduring Lessons From The Founding Fathers of Ghana". 6 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ Obituary: The Reverend Gottlieb Ababio Adom. Accra: Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Funeral Bulletin. 29 June 1979.
- ^ "Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi-Lamptey". Ghana Nation. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
- ^ "Nationalism, spatial iconography, political history: Exploring Accra's "Big Six" monuments for Republic Day". African Urbanism. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ Online, Peace FM. "Profile Of Late Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Jake's death: March is a sad month – Mahama". www.ghanaweb.com. 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Akufo-Addo, NPP stalwarts eulogise Mrs Obetsebi-Lamptey". www.ghanaweb.com. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ Frimpong, Enoch Darfah (21 October 2019). "Akufo-Addo cuts sod for construction works to begin on Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange project". Graphic Online. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Obetsebi-Lamptey Roundabout 05°33′41″N 00°13′46″W / 5.56139°N 0.22944°W
- ^ Bonney, Emmanuel (22 September 2022). "Section of Obetsebi-Lamptey road closes today". Graphic Online. Retrieved 6 March 2024.