A. Adu Boahen’s Followers (21)

A. Adu Boahen

Born

in Oseim, Ghana

May 24, 1932

Died

May 24, 2006

Genre

History, Politics

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Albert Kwadwo Adu Boahen was born in Oseim to Presbyterian parents, and had his ancestral roots in Juaben-Asante. He attended religious schools between 1938 and 1947. He then spent three years at the Mfantsipim School before enrolling in history studies at the University College of the Gold Coast in Legon. He graduated in 1956. In 1959 he received a Ph.D in African history from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, as the first Ghanaian.

He was employed at the University of Ghana in 1959, and was a professor from 1971 to his retirement in 1990. He chaired the Department of History there from 1967 to 1975, as the first African to do so, and was a dean from 1973 to 1975. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of A
Albert Kwadwo Adu Boahen was born in Oseim to Presbyterian parents, and had his ancestral roots in Juaben-Asante. He attended religious schools between 1938 and 1947. He then spent three years at the Mfantsipim School before enrolling in history studies at the University College of the Gold Coast in Legon. He graduated in 1956. In 1959 he received a Ph.D in African history from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, as the first Ghanaian.

He was employed at the University of Ghana in 1959, and was a professor from 1971 to his retirement in 1990. He chaired the Department of History there from 1967 to 1975, as the first African to do so, and was a dean from 1973 to 1975. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of African History published by Cambridge University Press, and was a visiting scholar at such institutions as the Australian National University in 1969, Columbia University in 1970 and the State University of New York in 1990 and 1991. Between 1993 and 1999, he also worked in the UNESCO committee that published the eight-volume work General History of Africa.
Boahen's academic work crossed over into politics. In February 1988 he publicly lectured on the history of Ghana from 1972 to 1987. Because of this, he is credited with breaking the so-called "culture of silence" which marked the regime of President Jerry Rawlings, who had served continuously since 1981. The lectures, originally held in the British Council Hall in Accra, were published in 1998 as The Ghanaian Sphinx: The Contemporary History of Ghana 1972-1987.

In 1990 he co-founded the Movement for Freedom and Justice, and served as its first chairman. The ban on political parties in Ghana was lifted in 1992. In the subsequent 1992 presidential election, Boahen was the New Patriotic Party's nominee. He lost to Jerry Rawlings, but received 30.4% of the vote. Due to dissatisfaction with alleged ballot rigging in that election, Boahen boycotted the next Ghanaian parliamentary election in 1992. In the Ghanaian presidential election in 1996, John Kufour stood as candidate for the New Patriotic Party, and fared somewhat better than Boahen with 39.6%. In 1998, Boahen tried to return as New Patriotic Party presidential nominee, but Kufour was chosen instead. Ultimately, Kufour won the Ghanaian presidential election, 2000 and became President.

Boahen spoke out against Marxist history early in his career. Politically, he described himself as "a liberal democrat, a believer in the freedom of the individual, the welfare of the governed, and in private enterprise and the market economy".
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A. Adu Boahen’s books

Average rating: 3.87 · 346 ratings · 37 reviews · 28 distinct works • Similar authors

	African Perspectives on Colonialism 3.90 avg rating — 222 ratings — published 1987 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. VII, Abridged Edition: Africa Under Colonial Domination 1880-1935 (Volume 7) 3.84 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 1985 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Topics in West African History (2nd Edition) by A. Adu Boahen, J.F. Ade Ajayi 4.26 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 1986 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ghana: Evolution and Change in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 3.92 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 1975 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Yaa Asantewaa and the Asante British War Of 1900-1 by A. Adu Boahen, Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong (Editor) 3.25 avg rating — 12 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Horizon History of Africa by A. Adu Boahen, Alvin M. Josephy Jr. (Editor) 3.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1971 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Writer as Myth Maker by A. Adu Boahen, Toyin Falola really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2006	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Histoire générale de l'Afrique - Volume VII - L'Afrique sous domination coloniale 1880-1935 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Vol.VII: African Under Colonial Domination, 1880-1935 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	African Perspectives on European Colonialism [AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON EUROPE] [Paperback] 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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A. Adu Boahen’s Followers (21)

A. Adu Boahen

Combine EditionsA. Adu Boahen’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
A. Adu Boahen’s books