Ofori Atta I


Ofori Atta I, KBE, Kt was the Okyenhene or King of the Akyem people and of Akyem Abuakwa, a kingdom that stretches back to the thirteenth century and was one of the most influential kingdoms of the then Gold Coast Colony. He ruled from his election in 1912 until his death in 1943.
Ofori Atta was educated in Basel Mission schools and at its Akuropon seminary, now named the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong. He left the seminary after two years to work as a solicitor's clerk, and then served in the West African Frontier Force, fighting during the Yaa Asantewaa War. Elected Omanhene of Akyem Abuakwa in 1912, he became a member of the Legislative Council in 1916.
In 1934, he led a Gold Coast Delegation to London to petition the British Parliament for official majority of Africans on the legislative council, permanent African representative on the Governor`s executive council and eligibility for non-chiefs to be provincial members of the executive council. He was also instrumental in setting up multiple schools, including Achimota School or College, where most colonial Gold Coast leaders and current prominent Ghanaian leaders schooled.
"Ofori Atta was the son of a senior official of the palace; his mother was the descendant of one of the founders of the kingdom.... Once in power, he was determined to return Akyem Abuakwa to its former glory."
He created the Ofori-Atta dynasty by privileging education both amongst his sons and daughters, through two paths, “one firmly rooted in a concern for binding the state by the traditionally sanctioned method of multiple marriage and the other rooted in his strong case for ‘modernisation’ and ‘progress’.”

Family

He was the brother of Dr J. B. Danquah. He was the father of Aaron Ofori-Atta,, Adeline Akufo-Addo,, William Ofori Atta, Dr Kwesi Amoako-Atta, Dr Jones Ofori Atta, and Susan Ofori-Atta. He was the grandfather of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,, Ken Ofori-Atta,, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Samuel Atta Akyea and the writer Nana Oforiatta Ayim.