Issifu Ali
Issifu Ali | |
---|---|
Minister for Works and Housing | |
In office 1966 – April 1969 | |
Appointed by | Joseph Arthur Ankrah |
Preceded by | Ibrahim Mahama |
Succeeded by | E. A. Yeboah |
Minister for Information | |
In office 1969 – August 1969 | |
Preceded by | Ibrahim Mahama |
Succeeded by | T. D. Brodie-Mends |
Personal details | |
Born | Wa, Gold Coast | 21 May 1929
Died | 9 April 2019 Accra |
Nationality | Ghanaian |
Political party | National Democratic Congress |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | |
Alhaji Issifu Ali (born 21 May 1929 – 9 April 2019)[1][2] is a Ghanaian politician and former Co-chairman of the National Democratic Congress.[3] He was a member of the Presidential Commission that ruled Ghana during the military era of the National Liberation Council. He served as Commissioner for Works and Housing now Ministry of Works and Housing from 1966 to April 1969[1] and Commissioner for Information now Ministry of Information Ghana in 1969.[4]
Early life and Education
Ali is an indigene of Wa in the Upper West region of Ghana. He was born 21 May 1929[1][5] at Enchi in the Western region of Ghana. He had his early education from 1937 to 1941 at Wa. He studied at the Tamale Teacher training college for four years. And furthered his education at St. Andrews University in Scotland where he graduated with a Master's degree in Political Economy and Modern History from 1955 to 1958. He took a further course in Accounting and was conferred with Associate Chartered Accountant (A.C.A) England and Wales and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries (A.C.I.S.).[1]
Career
Ali returned from the United Kingdom to Ghana and worked at Casselton and Elliot group of Company which was a group of Chartered Accountants in Accra. Later, he resigned after two years, to take on the post of Chief Accountant at the Agricultural Credit and Co-operative Bank now Agricultural Development Bank, from September 1965 until his appointment as commissioner. Ali was a board member of the Trustees for the Center for Civic Education now National Commission for Civic Education and the Executive council for the Society for the Blind Ghana.[1]
Politics
In other to create the Assembly, the National Liberation Council, nominated its members from various professions thus from the upper strata of the Ghanaian society. A distinguishing feature of this Assembly is the 'elitist background' of the majority of its members. Issifu Ali among others like E. A Boahene, R. E. Bannerman, B.J. Rocha, John Agyekum Kuffour, T.D. Brodie-Mends, Jones Ofori-Atta, Richard Quarshie, P.H. Adjetey, Godfred Kportufe Agama and S. A Okudzeto. Ali, including a few others were consequently given important positions in the National Liberation Council.[6] In 1966-1969 Ali was appointed commissioner for Works and Housing now Ministry of Works and Housing.[1] He was also appointed commissioner for information now Ministry of Information in 1969.[7] On 1 August 1969, he quit his position as Commissioner of Information to engage in Politics. He stated, he together with his colleagues of the National Liberation Council decided not be executive members of the council whilst they still held on to their posts as commissioners of state.[8] Ali was one of the first co-Chairmen of the National Democratic Congress.[3][2]
Personal life
Ali's interests includes; reading, debating and swimming. He enjoyed playing tennis as well, he was married with four children.[1] Ali was an Ahmadi.[9]
Death
Ali was a member of the council of elders of the National Democratic Congress before his death. He died on 9 April 2019 at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital after a short illness. He was buried at Kasoa Ahmadiya Muslim cemetery.[2]
Former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings the founder of the National Democratic Congress, paid tribute to Ali who is a former Chairman of the Party. Jerry John Rawlings said "People like him (Issifu Ali) will have a red-carpet treatment to heaven. Ali was a man of integrity. Let’s not allow people of integrity and moral authority to fade out."[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ocran, J. K. (6 August 1967). Sunday Mirror: Issue 730, August 6 1967. Graphic Communications Group.
- ^ a b c "NDC mourns former co-chairman Alhaji Ussifu Ali". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Chronology for Ewe in Ghana". University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ Service, British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring (1969). Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa.
- ^ Towards Civil Rule in Ghana. State Publishing Corporation. 1968.
- ^ Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana 1966-1972. 1975. p. 91.
- ^ Service, British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring (1969). Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa.
- ^ Ofori, Henry (31 July 1969). Daily Graphic: Issue 5,857 July 31 1969. Graphic Communications Group.
- ^ a b "Issifu Ali was a man of integrity – Rawlings mourns". www.ghanaweb.com. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.