Sustaining Ourselves as a Nation

Examples of Ghanaians who have made great contributions to help sustain the various sectors of our nation are Tetteh Quarshie, Dr, James Kwegir Aggrey, George Ekem Ferguson, John Kofi Mensah Sarbah, Mrs. Esther Ocloo and others.

Tetteh Quarshie

It was Tetteh Quarshie who first brought cocoa to Ghana from Fernando Po. He brought a few cocoa pods and nursed them on his farm at Mampong Akuapem. Years later, there were many fruits for other farmers to plant on their farms. In a few years, Ghana started exporting cocoa to other countries which generated a lot of income for the country. Now in Ghana, cocoa is one of the agricultural products that generates great income for the country.

Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey

Dr. Aggrey came back to Ghana after his studies abroad. He started implementing many educational policies he had planned by himself. He introduced the gradual training of students in their local cultural activities. He promoted the education of women. One of his popular saying was: ‘If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation.’

George Ekem Ferguson

He was a surveyor and an explorer. He was very instrumental in bringing together many of the Northern territories. He helped in the demarcation of most of the boundaries of our country. He made the first map of the northern regions.

John Kofi Mensah Sarbah

John Sarbah studied law in Britain and became the first Ghanaian barrister who could plead in the High court. He was the lawyer for the Aborigines Right Protection Society (A.R.P.S), a group of local educated men that was formed to prevent the property of the local people from being taken away from them by the whites. It was formed to protect the rights of the local people. John Sarbah never charged any fees for his services. He refused gifts given to him by chiefs when he gave a speech that led to withdrawal of a law that allowed the people’s properties to be taken away. He also helped in establishing some secondary schools in Cape coast like Mfantsipim secondary school.

Dr. Mrs Esther Ocloo

Mrs. Ocloo dedicated herself to the trade and industrial sector of the economy. She supported the progress and welfare of women in the trading sector. She helped many women to establish and expand their small scale businesses. She is one of the founding members of the Union of Trade and Industry in Ghana.