A book has been launched to celebrate the legacies of some of the legends of our country whose creativity, vision and good leadership laid the foundation of our nation. The event took place at the African Regent Hotel in Accra.
The book titled “LEGEND GHANA” has biographies of over sixty national legends and was written by Stephen Opoku-Tontoh, a financial analyst and biographer.
Launching the book, Mr. Imrana Mohammed of the National Commission on Civic Education said that little research work has been done in the subject area because history has often been passed down by word of mouth and as such has made it difficult to collect verifiable data. He questioned why we do not celebrate our heroes the way Rockefeller, Einstein, Shakespeare, Martin Luther King Jr. etc are honoured elsewhere.
Chapter One has biographies of entrepreneurs like George Alfred Grant, business tycoon Patrick Anim-Addo, Jacob Wilson Sey who was the first Ghanaian pound millionaire.
Chapter Two talks about public servants like Joe Appiah, J.E Casely-Hayford, Bart Plange, Dr. Benjamin Quartey-Papafio who was the first trained medical practitioner.
The Third Chapter celebrates Men of God like Rev. Phillip Quarcoo, Rev. Attoh-Ahuma, Rev. Atta Osam Pinanko.
Chapter Four celebrates traditional leaders like Nana Osagyefo Kuntunkununku II, Nana Osei Tutu I, Nene Mate-Kole, Nana Ofori Atta I.
The Fifth Chapter celebrates legendary scholars like Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey, Dr. Raphael Armattoe, Tete Orgle, Dr. Alexander Quaison Sackey who was the first black president of the United Nations General Assembly.
Chapter Six has legends like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. K.A Busia, Victor Owusu, Hon. Emmanuel Charles Quist who served as the first Ghanaian Speaker of Parliament.
On his part, Stephen Opoku-Tontoh said he felt the legacies of some of our national legends were still relevant. “In the 21st Century, I have told the story of the men of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, Anomabo Temperance Society and many other successful men and all without foreign aid”, he said. He stressed that a good name is better than amassing personal fortune.
At the book signing, Mr. Imrana Mohammed bought the first copy for Four Thousand Cedis. Other dignitaries present also bought copies.
Contact: opokutontoh@yahoo.com
0244716553