James E. Kwegyir-Aggrey: Meet the Gold Coast academic and priest on the GHC5 note
- Dr James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey was an intellectual, missionary, and teacher on the Gold Coast
- The native of Anamabu in the Central region made history when he was appointed 1st Vice Principal of Achimota School in 1924
- Dr James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey taught Dr Kwame Nkrumah while he was in Achimota School, which was then a Government Training College
- YEN.com.gh throws the spotlight on the Ghanaian educationist whose image is featured on the GHC5 bill
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Reverend Dr James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey was an intellectual, missionary, and teacher on Gold Coast, present-day Ghana.
The native of Anamabu in the Central region greatly impacted the life of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Born on 18 October 1875 to Okyeame Kwadwo Kwegyir and his wife, Princess Abena Anowa of Ajumako, James was the 17th child of his father and fourth of his mother, the third and last wife of Okyeame Kwegyir.
Dr James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey received his early education at the Wesley Boys Senior High School (now Mfantsipim School) in Cape Coast, where he also studied Greek and Latin.
Source: Facebook
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He moved to the United States 1989 after obtaining a scholarship to study as a missionary at the Livingstone College. He studied chemistry, physics, logic, economics, and politics, earning three degrees and two doctorates in theology and osteopathy.
In November 1903, he was made a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Salisbury.
Two years after he was appointed, he tied the knot with his wife, Rose Douglas, a resident of Virginia with whom he had four children.
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Agrrey made history when he was named 1st Vice Principal of Achimota School by Sir Guggisberg in 1924, assisting Rev Fraser.
Dr James Emman Kwegyir-Aggrey taught Dr Kwame Nkrumah while he was at Achimota School, which was then a Government Training College.
He designed the emblem of Achimota School and relocated to Ghana with his wife and children.
In May 1927, he returned to the United States, and in July that same year, he was admitted to a hospital in Harlem, New York, where he died later that month.
Aggrey was buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.
For his unrivalled accomplishments and contributions to education in Ghana, the Bank of Ghana recognised him during the institution’s 60th Anniversary in 2017 and made Aggrey’s image the face of the GHC5 bill.
In another history post, Princess Ewurabena Pokou was Queen and founder of the Baoulé tribe in West Africa, now Ivory Coast.
According to ghanaianmuseum.com, Queen Pokou ruled over a branch of the powerful Ashanti Empire as it expanded westward.
A subgroup of the Akan people, the Baoulé people are today one of the largest ethnic groups in modern day Ivory Coast.
Her father was a warrior who was not documented because he had no royal lineage. Princess Pokou gained her royalty through the matrilineal culture of the Ashanti tribe.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
