George Alfred Grant, popularly known as Paa Grant (15 August 1878 – 30 October 1956), was a merchant and politician in the Gold Coast[1] who has been called "the father of Gold Coast politics".[2] As a political activist, he was a founder and the first president of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in August 1947.[3][4] He was also one of Ghana's Founding Fathers.[5] He paid for Kwame Nkrumah to return to Ghana from the United States.
Grant was born in 1878 in Beyin, Western Nzema, into an influential merchant family. He was the son of William Minneaux Grant and Madam Adjua (Dwowa) Biatwi of the Aboradze clan, and the grandson of Francis Chapman Grant,[1] proprietor of the Gold Coast Times and treasurer of the Fanti Confederation.[6]
Grant was educated at Wesleyan School in Cape Coast now Mfantsipim School and through private tuition given by Joseph D. Abraham, a wealthy merchant friend of his father's.[1] Grant was subsequently employed in the timber trade, first at Axim and then for five years in the Ivory Coast.[6] In 1896, he established his own firm, George Grant and Company.[1] He prospered as a timber merchant, with a flourishing export business, at a time when the trade was dominated by European companies.[6]
He visited Britain in 1905 and by the time the First World War broke out in 1914, he had built up business contacts with leading timber companies in Europe and the United States. Between 1914 and 1919 he chartered ships to transport timber to Britain and the USA. He opened his own offices in London, Liverpool and Hamburg between 1920 and 1922, and in the Gold Coast he expanded operations to Dunkwa, Sekondi and Akim Abuakwa.[6] In 1926 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, representing Sekondi. Grant was also a member of the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society and was instrumental in many development projects,[1] including introducing street lighting and pipe-borne water to Sekondi and Axim.[2]
Political activism and later life
During and after the Second World War, Grant realised that Africans in the Gold Coast were suffering many colonial practices that were discriminatory and unfavourable,[1] and he decided to take steps to deal with the inadequacy of representation of African interests.[6] He invited J. B. Danquah and others to a meeting to launch a nationalist party. Some 40 people, including lawyers R. A. Awoonor-Williams, Edward Akufo-Addo, and Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, met in Saltpond and the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was founded on 4 August 1947, with the goal of achieving self-government. Kwame Nkrumah was elected UGCC secretary general, after being recommended by Ebenezer Ako-Adjei,[2] and Grant paid Nkrumah's £100 boat fare to return to Ghana from Liverpool that year.[7]
Nkrumah later split from the UGCC to form the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Grant eventually concentrated more on his businesses than politics. However, they maintained contact, and Nkrumah visited him two days before Grant's death in Axim on 30 October 1956, at the age of 78.[2] In 1955 he had suffered an attack of apoplexy from which he never completely recovered.[8]
Family and personal life
Current surviving children are Sarah Esi Grant, Mrs Rosamond Hammond-Grant, William Minneaux Grant, and numerous grand- and great-grandchildren across the globe.
Other known grandchildren are: Georgina Grant, Margaret Grant, Stella Blay-Kwofie, Christine Blay-Kwofie, Dorothy Blay-Kwofie, Joyce Christian, Letitia Hammond, Rosamond Hammond, James Hemans Hammond, Matilda Hammond, Georgina Hammond, Emmanuel Hammond, George Hammond, Alberta Hammond, Lawrence Hammond, Yvonne Hammond, Samuel Duker-Ako, George Grant, Felix Grant, Sabina Grant, Kweku Robert Grant, Kwesi Brown Grant, Frances Grant, Maame Efua Lartey-Grant, Sefa Gohoho of Songhai Africa, a Panafrican Luxury Consumer Goods Company. Another relative is David Prah-Annan, Accra, Ghana. Paa Grant is also related to the recently deceased Dr Mary Grant.
Memorial and legacy
In honour of Grant's role in the struggle for Independence, the Ghana government named a new flyover after him at Caprice, in Accra.[10][11]
Paa Grant Soccer Academy
The Paa Grant Soccer Academy was formed in 2009 by Kim Tyrone Grant, a former national player for Ghana Black Stars, to honour his grandfather's "dedication and work ethic helping bring freedom and independence to all Ghanaians from colonial rule until 1957".[12]
George Grant University of Mines and Technology
On 12 January 2018, President Akufo-Addo announced during a special congregation held at the university, the renaming of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) which is located in the Western Region of Ghana, to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology in honour of him being a founding father of Ghana's fight towards independence and also being a native of the western region.[13][14][15]
References
^ abcdefBiography, The Paa Grant Soccer Academy Official Website. Archived 8 March 2011 at archive.today
^ abcd"Overpass to be named after Paa Grant", Joy Online, 22 August 2007.
^"Overpass to be named after Paa Grant". MyJoyOnline.com. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
^"Ghana pays tribute to founders' - Graphic Online". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
^McFarland, Daniel Miles, "Grant, 'Pa' George Alfred", Historical Dictionary of Ghana, 1985, p. 92.
^ abcde"Grant, G. A. (1878–1956)", in Makers of Modern Africa: Profiles in History, Africa Journal Ltd for Africa Books Ltd, 1981, pp. 189–90.
^Birmingham, David, Kwame Nkrumah: The Father of African Nationalism (revised edition), Ohio University Press, 1998.
^Grant-Acquah, Sarah Esi, "In the beginning was…PAA GRANT - And the UGCC" 2018-10-31 at the Wayback Machine. From Daily Graphic, 14 February 2007, via National Commission on Culture.
^Christian, Phyllis M., "The sacrifices men make - A memorial to George Alfred Grant", Graphic Online, 30 October 2017.
^"Paa Grant Honoured", Modern Ghana, 21 March 2007.
^"Flyover to be named after Paa Grant", GhanaWeb, 20 March 2007.
^"Academy History" 26 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Paa Grant Soccer Academy Official Website.
^"President applauds UMaT for renaming institution after George Grant - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Aryeh, Felix L. "UMaT renamed George Grant University of Mines and Technology". www.umat.edu.gh. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
Further reading
Ako Adjei, The Life and Work of George Alfred Grant (Paa Grant), Accra: Waterville Pub. House, 1992, 31 pp.
External links
Mrs. Sarah Esi Grant-Acquah, . Excerpts from Recollections. Source: Daily Graphic, Wednesday, 14 February 2007. National Commission on Culture. The author is the daughter of Paa Grant.
Bernard Ralph Adams, "Paa Grant The Unsung Hero!", 31 December 2014.
January 02, 2023
grant, george, alfred, grant, popularly, known, august, 1878, october, 1956, merchant, politician, gold, coast, been, called, father, gold, coast, politics, political, activist, founder, first, president, united, gold, coast, convention, ugcc, august, 1947, al. George Alfred Grant popularly known as Paa Grant 15 August 1878 30 October 1956 was a merchant and politician in the Gold Coast 1 who has been called the father of Gold Coast politics 2 As a political activist he was a founder and the first president of the United Gold Coast Convention UGCC in August 1947 3 4 He was also one of Ghana s Founding Fathers 5 He paid for Kwame Nkrumah to return to Ghana from the United States George Alfred GrantBorn 1878 08 15 15 August 1878Beyin Western Nzema Gold CoastDied30 October 1956 1956 10 30 aged 78 Axim GhanaOther namesPaa GrantOccupation s Merchant politicianKnown forFounding president of the United Gold Coast Convention UGCC ChildrenSarah Esi Grant Mrs Rosamond Hammond Grant William Minneaux GrantParent s William Minneaux Grant and Madam Adjua Dwowa BiatwiRelativesFrancis Chapman Grant grandfather Phyllis Christian granddaughter Kim Tyrone Grant grandson Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Education and early career 1 2 Political activism and later life 2 Family and personal life 3 Memorial and legacy 3 1 Paa Grant Soccer Academy 3 2 George Grant University of Mines and Technology 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography EditEducation and early career Edit Grant was born in 1878 in Beyin Western Nzema into an influential merchant family He was the son of William Minneaux Grant and Madam Adjua Dwowa Biatwi of the Aboradze clan and the grandson of Francis Chapman Grant 1 proprietor of the Gold Coast Times and treasurer of the Fanti Confederation 6 Grant was educated at Wesleyan School in Cape Coast now Mfantsipim School and through private tuition given by Joseph D Abraham a wealthy merchant friend of his father s 1 Grant was subsequently employed in the timber trade first at Axim and then for five years in the Ivory Coast 6 In 1896 he established his own firm George Grant and Company 1 He prospered as a timber merchant with a flourishing export business at a time when the trade was dominated by European companies 6 He visited Britain in 1905 and by the time the First World War broke out in 1914 he had built up business contacts with leading timber companies in Europe and the United States Between 1914 and 1919 he chartered ships to transport timber to Britain and the USA He opened his own offices in London Liverpool and Hamburg between 1920 and 1922 and in the Gold Coast he expanded operations to Dunkwa Sekondi and Akim Abuakwa 6 In 1926 he was appointed to the Legislative Council representing Sekondi Grant was also a member of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society and was instrumental in many development projects 1 including introducing street lighting and pipe borne water to Sekondi and Axim 2 Political activism and later life Edit During and after the Second World War Grant realised that Africans in the Gold Coast were suffering many colonial practices that were discriminatory and unfavourable 1 and he decided to take steps to deal with the inadequacy of representation of African interests 6 He invited J B Danquah and others to a meeting to launch a nationalist party Some 40 people including lawyers R A Awoonor Williams Edward Akufo Addo and Emmanuel Obetsebi Lamptey met in Saltpond and the United Gold Coast Convention UGCC was founded on 4 August 1947 with the goal of achieving self government Kwame Nkrumah was elected UGCC secretary general after being recommended by Ebenezer Ako Adjei 2 and Grant paid Nkrumah s 100 boat fare to return to Ghana from Liverpool that year 7 Nkrumah later split from the UGCC to form the Convention People s Party CPP and Grant eventually concentrated more on his businesses than politics However they maintained contact and Nkrumah visited him two days before Grant s death in Axim on 30 October 1956 at the age of 78 2 In 1955 he had suffered an attack of apoplexy from which he never completely recovered 8 Family and personal life EditCurrent surviving children are Sarah Esi Grant Mrs Rosamond Hammond Grant William Minneaux Grant and numerous grand and great grandchildren across the globe Sarah Esi Grant Acquah is the mother of lawyer Phyllis Christian 9 Other known grandchildren are Georgina Grant Margaret Grant Stella Blay Kwofie Christine Blay Kwofie Dorothy Blay Kwofie Joyce Christian Letitia Hammond Rosamond Hammond James Hemans Hammond Matilda Hammond Georgina Hammond Emmanuel Hammond George Hammond Alberta Hammond Lawrence Hammond Yvonne Hammond Samuel Duker Ako George Grant Felix Grant Sabina Grant Kweku Robert Grant Kwesi Brown Grant Frances Grant Maame Efua Lartey Grant Sefa Gohoho of Songhai Africa a Panafrican Luxury Consumer Goods Company Another relative is David Prah Annan Accra Ghana Paa Grant is also related to the recently deceased Dr Mary Grant Memorial and legacy EditIn honour of Grant s role in the struggle for Independence the Ghana government named a new flyover after him at Caprice in Accra 10 11 Paa Grant Soccer Academy Edit The Paa Grant Soccer Academy was formed in 2009 by Kim Tyrone Grant a former national player for Ghana Black Stars to honour his grandfather s dedication and work ethic helping bring freedom and independence to all Ghanaians from colonial rule until 1957 12 George Grant University of Mines and Technology Edit On 12 January 2018 President Akufo Addo announced during a special congregation held at the university the renaming of the University of Mines and Technology UMaT which is located in the Western Region of Ghana to the George Grant University of Mines and Technology in honour of him being a founding father of Ghana s fight towards independence and also being a native of the western region 13 14 15 References Edit a b c d e f Biography The Paa Grant Soccer Academy Official Website Archived 8 March 2011 at archive today a b c d Overpass to be named after Paa Grant Joy Online 22 August 2007 Overpass to be named after Paa Grant MyJoyOnline com 2007 03 22 Retrieved 2020 08 03 Ghana pays tribute to founders Graphic Online www graphic com gh Retrieved 2020 08 05 McFarland Daniel Miles Grant Pa George Alfred Historical Dictionary of Ghana 1985 p 92 a b c d e Grant G A 1878 1956 in Makers of Modern Africa Profiles in History Africa Journal Ltd for Africa Books Ltd 1981 pp 189 90 Birmingham David Kwame Nkrumah The Father of African Nationalism revised edition Ohio University Press 1998 Grant Acquah Sarah Esi In the beginning was PAA GRANT And the UGCC Archived 2018 10 31 at the Wayback Machine From Daily Graphic 14 February 2007 via National Commission on Culture Christian Phyllis M The sacrifices men make A memorial to George Alfred Grant Graphic Online 30 October 2017 Paa Grant Honoured Modern Ghana 21 March 2007 Flyover to be named after Paa Grant GhanaWeb 20 March 2007 Academy History Archived 26 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Paa Grant Soccer Academy Official Website President applauds UMaT for renaming institution after George Grant MyJoyOnline com www myjoyonline com 13 January 2018 Retrieved 2021 01 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Opoku Emmanuel 2018 01 15 UMaT Renamed After Paa Grant DailyGuide Network Retrieved 2021 01 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Aryeh Felix L UMaT renamed George Grant University of Mines and Technology www umat edu gh Retrieved 2021 01 13 Further reading EditAko Adjei The Life and Work of George Alfred Grant Paa Grant Accra Waterville Pub House 1992 31 pp External links EditMrs Sarah Esi Grant Acquah In the beginning was PAA GRANT And the UGCC Excerpts from Recollections Source Daily Graphic Wednesday 14 February 2007 National Commission on Culture The author is the daughter of Paa Grant Bernard Ralph Adams Paa Grant The Unsung Hero 31 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paa Grant amp oldid 1118720306, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
