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Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was a politician in the Third republic under President Hilla Limann. He was also a Barrister called to the Middle Temple in the United Kingdom in 1974. He was subsequently called to the Ghana Bar Association in 1977. He worked for what was then Tata Brewery Limited owned by Mr. Kwabena Siaw before venturing into politics, first to contest unsuccessfully for what was then the Offinso Seat ( Now Offinso North District). He was later made a Deputy Minister of Labour, Youth and Social Welfare under President Hilla Limann.

Early life and education

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was born Kofi Asiedu in Akomadan, Offinso North District to Opanyin Kwadwo Nkansah and Eno Yaa Serwaa(Ena Yaa Anto aka Kokodwie) in 1928. He was a member of the Gyaase Clan of Akomadan and had family and relations stretching to Techimantia( Nana Kwaku Boakye aka Kwaku Kuma) and Duayaw Nkwanta(the Awompi Royal Household), through his Great-Grandfather Nana Danso.

He had his primary education at the Methodist Primary school in Akomadan and later continued at the Presbyterian Boys School in Ashanti New Town Kumasi.

In 1956, he was fortunate to have been selected as part of the Ghanaian students to travel abroad and he proceeded to the United Kingdom(UK), settling first in Brighton for 10 years before finally migrating to London for another 10 years. During his years in the UK, he studied to become a Chartered Secretary, An Accountant and gathered various other qualifications before settling on Law, after having being prevailed upon by one Lawyer Sam Amofa.

Career and Politics

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was a tutor in Tanoso, in the early 1950s and later on in those same years, became the first Postal Agent for the Akomadan Post Office earning him the nom de guerre "Wofa PA", meaning "Uncle Postal Agent". During his stay aboard in the UK, he was a member and later a Secretary of the Ghana Union of Students in Brighton, in the 60s together with Nana Oduro Nimapau II and other personalities. Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah worked with various Banks in the UK including the Barclays Bank, Midland Bank, National Westminster Bank and others.

Returning to Ghana in 1976, he worked at Tata Brewery Limited, Bank For Housing and Construction, set up Akuman Chambers before finally entering politics in 1978 to contest the seat as a Member of Parliament for Offinso which included all the towns from Afrancho, Akomadan and others all the way up to Offinso. He contested on the ticket of the Peoples' National Party against Honourable Kwadwo Takyi-Berko of the Popular Front Party but was unsuccessful in the 1979 elections.

President Hilla Limann later made him a Deputy Minister, Labour, Youth and Social Welfare alongside Madam Adisa Munkaila and under Hon Frank Quentin Amega. He was relieved of his position in 1980, having had arguments with President Hilla Limann about the ongoing corruption and how that could precipitate the return of the military to power.

Detention

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was detained for a couple of times in 1979 under the AFRC regime sometimes spending a week and sometimes a few days. In 1981, when Jerry Rawlings returned as the leader of the PNDC, Emmanuel was one of the very vocal opponents of the regime, especially from his native Akomadan, formed the Akomadan Scholars Association with others, running into trouble with the Peoples' Defence Committee(PDC) and later the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution(CDR) with one Nana Yaw Kwabia as head of the latter.

On 5th of March 1987, while at his Accra residence ( Dansoman Estates - Last Stop), he was picked up by elements of the PNDC, and was accused of being part of a coup plot. Despite his protestations and suffering heavily from Asthma, he was sent to the Bureau of National Investigations(BNI), Accra which was then headed by Peter Nanfuri. He was told by BNI and directly by Peter Nanfuri that "since he was a lawyer and should have known better, he would be there for a while". Indeed he was at the BNI for 4 months before being transferred to the Ussher Fort prisons in Accra.

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was released on the 14th June 1990 with "Rockshell", Captain Egala, Kwadwo Antwi Agyei Brempong(Rose Toilet Roll) among others after petitions to Amnesty International, United Nations and Danielle Mitterand.

Personal life

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was married to Maame Yaa Donkor from Akomadan and Tanoso with whom he had 2 children Bernard Nkansah(Born 1955, died in 1955) and Cecilia Abena Nkansah (Born in 1956, died 1st July 2021).

Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah was later married to Evangelina Hilda Hagan of Egyaa No.1(Paternal) and Sekondi, Kansaworodo, a Registered Nurse who he met while sojourning in the the United Kingdom and was the father of Derek Kwaku Nkansah, Anne Yaa Serwaa Nkansah and Agnes Nana Yaa Agyeman Nkansah.

Death

On 26th April 1998, Emmanuel Kofi Nkansah succumbed to asthma and other diseases and was called to his maker. He was buried in Akomadan on the 14th June 1998.