•
Ebenezer Ako-Adjei (17 June 1916 – 14 January 2002) was a lawyer and politician, who served as foreign minister and in other leading cabinet roles during the first Republic of Ghana as a member of the
Convention People's Party. He was a founding member of the
United Gold Coast Convention and is one of the "
Big Six", who were arguably the most famous people in Ghana's fight for independence from British rule. •
Tetteh Quarshie (1842 – 25 December 1892) was a pre-independence agriculturalist and the person directly responsible for the introduction of cocoa crops to Ghana, which today constitute one of the major export crops of the Ghanaian economy. •
Carl Christian Reindorf (31 May 1834 – 1 July 1917) was a Euro-African-born pioneer historian, teacher, farmer, trader, physician and pastor who worked with the Basel Mission on the Gold Coast. He wrote
The History of the Gold Coast and Asante in the Ga language, considered a pioneering work and a "historical classic". The work was later translated into English and published in 1895 in
Switzerland. He used written sources and oral tradition, interviewing more than 200 people in the course of assembling his history. •
Nii Tackie Tawiah III (6 October 1940 – December 2012) was the monarch of the Ga State from 2006 to 2012. •
John William Hansen (23 February 1927 – 7 April 2012), popularly known as Jerry Hansen, was a highlife musician. He was a singer, composer, arranger, saxophonist, and pioneer of highlife music. He was the bandleader and founder of the
Ramblers International Band. He was a founding member and the first president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) •
Queen Asabia Cropper is regarded as a pioneering figure in Ghanaian highlife, recognised for her work as both a singer and soprano saxophonist. She helped shape Ghana's performance culture in the 1970s and 1980s through her stagecraft, musical arrangements, and collaborations with bands such as Sweet Talks and the Black Hustlers Band. Her distinctive kente-inspired headwrap styles became widely adopted in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, contributing to the contemporary visibility of Ghanaian textile and fashion traditions. She has received several honours, including cultural ambassador recognition and a lifetime achievement award, for her contribution to Ghana's music and cultural heritage. • Lieutenant General
Joseph Arthur Ankrah (18 August 1915 – 25 November 1992) served as the first commander of the
Ghana Armed Forces, the Chief of the Defence Staff of Ghana and from 1966 and 1969 as the second
President of Ghana. Ankrah also served as Chairperson of the
Organisation of African Unity from 24 February to 5 November 1966. •
Mustapha Tettey Addy, traditional drummer & composer (b. 1942) •
Nii Quaynor, (born 1945) is a scientist and engineer who has played an important role in the introduction and development of the
Internet throughout Africa. He holds degrees in engineering and computer science from Dartmouth College and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1977. Upon returning to Ghana in the 1990s, Quaynor established one of Africa's earliest Internet service providers and played a founding role in organizations like the African Network Operators Group (AfNOG) and AfriNIC, the continent's Internet numbers registry. He served as ICANN's first African director and has contributed to numerous global ICT initiatives, including as Chair of the OAU Internet Task Force and a Commissioner on the Global Commission on Internet Governance. Quaynor is recognized for his contributions with awards such as the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award and his 2013 induction into the Internet Hall of Fame. •
Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is a Ghanaian robotics engineer at NASA, serving as the chief engineer and technical group leader for the mobility and manipulation group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Trebi-Ollennu has played a significant role in various NASA Mars missions, including the Mars Rover and InSight projects. He holds multiple professional certifications and has a background in avionics and control systems. •
Victor B. Lawrence (born May 10, 1945, Ghana) is a renowned electrical engineer recognized for his groundbreaking work in signal processing and telecommunications. He played a pivotal role in advancing modem technology, data encoding, and high-speed Internet transmission, including the development of the 56kbit/s modem and improvements in DSL technologies. Lawrence's contributions to silicon chip design and digital video were essential to the global expansion of the Internet and digital broadcasting. He is currently a faculty member at Stevens Institute of Technology, holds several U.S. patents, and has been a leading advocate for bringing Internet access to underserved regions, notably through the installation of fiber optic cables along the west coast of Africa. •
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (born 8 February 1963) is a Ghanaian diplomat, lawyer, and politician, currently serving as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Previously, she held the role of Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, appointed in 2017 by President Nana Akufo-Addo. As Foreign Minister, she played an instrumental role on the United Nations Security Council, securing UN funding for African Union-led peace operations, and chaired the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, advocating for regional stability and democratic transitions. Botchwey also promoted Ghana's "Year of Return" initiative, which strengthened ties with the African diaspora. A member of the New Patriotic Party, she holds degrees in law and business from the University of London and the University of Ghana and is widely recognized for her contributions to diplomacy and international cooperation. •
Raphael Nii Amaa Ollennu, JSC, FGA (21 May 1906 – 22 December 1986) was a jurist and judge who became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, the acting President of Ghana during the Second Republic from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970 and the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. •
Obo Addy, traditional and contemporary drummer, composer and educator; NEA National Heritage Fellow 1996 U.S.A. (1936–2012) •
Yacub Addy, traditional drummer, composer, choreographer and educator: NEA National Heritage Fellow 2010 U.S.A.; collaborated with
Wynton Marsalis (1931–2014) •
Christian Tsui Hesse, popularly known as Chris Hesse (born 29 August 1932) is a cinematographer, filmmaker, film administrator, photographer, and Presbyterian minister who is known for his cinematography in several films such as
Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980) and
Heritage Africa (1989). He was the personal photographer of Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Chris Hesse has helped document the visual history of the political leadership and development of the country. He also worked for the United Nations, serving as a photographer, documenting the Congo crisis in 1960. •
Atukwei John Okai (15 March 1941 – 13 July 2018) was a poet, cultural activist, and an academic. He was Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers' Association, and a President of the Ghana Association of Writers. His early work was published under the name John Okai. With his poems rooted in the oral tradition, he is generally acknowledged to have been the first performance poet to emerge from Africa, and his work has been called "politically radical and socially conscious, one of his great concerns being Pan-Africanism". His performances on radio and television worldwide include an acclaimed 1975 appearance at Poetry International at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, where he shared the stage with US poets Stanley Kunitz and Robert Lowell, and Nicolás Guillén of Cuba. • Justice
Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph (6 September 1914 – 25 July 1986) was a judge and also the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana during the Third Republic. In 1959, during the First Republic of Ghana, President Kwame Nkrumah appointed him as Commissioner of Income Tax, the first African to hold that position. In 1966, he was appointed a Superior Court judge by the new government and served in Bolgatanga, Cape Coast, Tamale and finally Accra, where he was until he retired from the Bench in 1979. In September 1979, the 3rd Republic was born, and he was unanimously selected to be Speaker of Parliament. He served as Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana from 24 September 1979 – 31 December 1981 •
Ernestina Naadu Mills (née Botchway) is an educator and a former First Lady of Ghana. She was the wife of President
John Atta Mills (21 July 1944 – 24 July 2012) and is the recipient of a humanitarian award from the Health Legend Foundation. •
Rebecca Akufo-Addo (née Griffiths-Randolph) is a public figure and a First Lady of Ghana. She is the wife of President
Nana Akufo-Addo. •
Ayi Kwei Armah, writer (b. 1939) •
Alice Annum aka the original "Baby Jet" (b. 1948) was also the first woman to represent Ghana at the Olympics. Throughout her career, not only did she compete as a runner, she also competed in long jump. Alice participated in the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo, 1968 in Mexico and the 1972 Olympics held in Munich. •
Nii Ayikwei Parkes (born 1 April 1974), is a performance poet, writer, publisher, and sociocultural commentator. He is one of 39 writers aged under 40 from sub-Saharan Africa who in April 2014 were named as part of the Hay Festival's prestigious Africa39 project •
Emmanuel Tettey Mensah aka E. T. Mensah, musician (1919–1996) who was regarded as the "King of Highlife" music. He led the band "The Tempos", a group that toured widely in West Africa • Warren Gamaliel Kpakpo Akwei, also known as
Guy Warren or Kofi Ghanaba (4 May 1923 – 22 December 2008) was a musician, best known as the inventor of Afro-jazz — "the reuniting of African-American jazz with its African roots"[1] — and as a member of The Tempos, alongside E. T. Mensah. He also inspired musicians such as Fela Kuti. Warren's virtuosity on the African drums earned him the appellation "The Divine Drummer". At different stages of his life, he also worked as a journalist, DJ and broadcaster. • John William Hansen, a singer, a composer, an arranger, a saxophonist, and a pioneer of highlife music. He was the founder of
Ramblers International Band •
King Bruce, (3 June 1922 – 12 September 1997), a composer, band leader, musician, arranger, band leader, and multi-instrumentalist who made his mark on Ghana's dance band highlife tradition in a variety of ways. •
Shatta Wale – Born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., a Ghanaian musician, songwriter, and producer. Known as a leading figure in the dancehall and afrobeat genres, he rose to fame with his hit single "Dancehall King" and gained international recognition through his collaboration with Beyoncé on "Already." A proud Gadangme, Shatta Wale is also an advocate for artist rights and welfare in Ghana. •
Saka Acquaye (2 November 1923 – 27 February 2007), a musician, playwright, sculptor and textile designer. He founded the African Ensemble while in the US and as its leader, recorded an album under the ELEKTRA label. He was a member of
Ramblers International Band •
Grace Nortey is an actress who played multi-character lead roles on Ghanaian television in the 1990s. •
Mac Jordan Amartey (1936–2018) was a popular actor. •
Emmanuel Armah (born 22 April 1968) is a retired football defender. He played for Hearts of Oak in Ghana, except for the 1994–95 season at Sportul Studențesc București in Romania. He represented Ghana at the
1992 Africa Cup of Nations. •
Augustine Abbey, also known as
Idikoko, is an actor and movie maker known for comedy. He is also known for his main roles as a house boy or gate man. He has produced and starred in a BBC documentary and also directed and produced a film on HIV and AIDS in partnership with UNESCO and Esi Sutherland-Addy's MMOFRA Foundation. •
Theresa Amerley Tagoe, Minister of Parliament (1943–2010) •
Azumah "The Professor" Nelson, boxer (b. 1958) •
Neville Alexander Odartey-Wellington, army commander •
Nii Amaa Ollennu, former Interim President of Ghana (1906–1986) •
Ike "Bazooka" Quartey, boxer (b. 1969) •
Ben Tackie, boxer (b. 1973) • Justice
Daniel Francis Annan, first Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana in the Fourth Republic. (b. 1928) •
George Commey Mills-Odoi, first Ghanaian
Attorney General of Ghana; Justice of Supreme Court of Ghana (1962–1966) • Justice
E.N.P. Sowah, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Ghana (1986–1990) •
Ebenezer Akuete, former diplomat •
Joshua Clottey, boxer, Former IBF Welterweight Champion. •
Richard Commey, boxer, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lightweight World Champion •
Frank Gibbs Torto, chemist •
Daniel McKorley, the founder and chief executive officer of
McDan Group of Companies •
Lesley Naa Norle Lokko is a Ghanaian-Scottish architect, academic, and novelist. •
Adjetey Anang, actor, popularly known as "Pusher", which was his screen name in the television series 'Things We Do for Love, and most recentry, Yolo' •
Nii Addo Quaynor, a rapper better known by his stage name
Tinny. •
Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe (born 8 March 1973), better known as Boris Kodjoe, is an Austrian-born actor of German and Ghanaian descent known for his roles as Kelby in the 2002 film Brown Sugar, the sports-courier agent Damon Carter on the Showtime drama series
Soul Food and was a recurring character on FOX's
The Last Man on Earth. He currently co-stars on BET's
Real Husbands of Hollywood and the ''Grey's Anatomy
spin-off, Station 19''. •
Abraham Nii Attah (born 2 July 2001). He made his feature film debut in
Beasts of No Nation (2015). For his leading role of child soldier Agu, Attah was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival. He was made an ambassador for the Free Education Policy in Ghana, after having supported the policy with a picture endorsement. In 2017, he appeared in the
Marvel Studios film
Spider-Man: Homecoming. He has joined the ensemble cast of
Shane Carruth's third film,
The Modern Ocean. •
Joselyn Dumas, television show host and actress • Berla Addardey Mundi aka
Berla Mundi, media personality, women's advocate and voice artist •
Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, actress, radio/TV broadcaster and public relations professional • Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr. aka
Shatta Wale, formerly known as Bandana, music producer and reggae-dancehall artiste •
Yvonne Nelson, actress, model, film producer and entrepreneur •
Chris Attoh (born Christopher Keith Nii Attoh; 17 May 1974) is an actor, on-air personality, television presenter and producer. He is best known as "Kwame Mensah" in Nigerian soap opera Tinsel. • Odartei Mills Lamptey, popularly known as
Gasmilla or International Fisherman, is a
hiplife artist. •
Theophilus Tagoe (born 1 May 1982, disappeared 6 July 2014), popularly known as Castro or Castro Under Fire is a hiplife recording artist and musician. •
Nii Kwate Owoo, (born 1944) is an academic and filmmaker, described by Variety as "one of the first Ghanaians to make a 35mm film". His name has also appeared in film credits as Kwate Nee-Owoo. •
Eddie Nartey, (born 6 November 1984) is an actor, director, and film producer. His supporting role in Frank Rajah's "Somewhere In Africa" earned him a nomination at the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA), and Ghana movie awards. He was nominated in the best actor category for Kiss Me If You Can. • The
Tagoe Sisters is the name of a musical duo consisting of twins Lydia Dedei Yawson Nee Tagoe and Elizabeth Korkoi Tagoe. They have been singing in the gospel music industry since 1983 •
Nii Okai (Ernest Nii-Okai Okai, born 19 September 1977) is a contemporary gospel singer and choir leader. •
Danny Nettey (19 September 1968 – 15 July 2016) was a musician and songwriter. He was best described as one of the pioneers of Contemporary Gospel music in Ghana. == See also ==