The Life and Times of Jones Clifford Akosa (1911-1992)

Abstract

The writing of the biographies of people who have gone before us is an important duty. The writing of biographies helps the present generation to have an experience of the past. It also helps people to learn good behaviors and avoid bad ones. The underlying concept of the study was the trait leadership approach and the transformational leadership approach. The study was conducted using qualitative method of collecting data. Interviews were conducted with the family, relatives, elders of Mampong and some co- workers of Akosa. To avoid bias, information from the interviews were cross checked with information from the archives and published books. Jones Clifford Akosa was from Benim in the Sekyere district. He was a man of many parts. He was a politician, a philanthropist, and a chief. Akosa had humble beginnings but made it as an astute businessman. He acquired some wealth which he used to help people in his community. Akosa used his time, money, and skills to bring development to Mampong and its environs. He is believed to be the biggest philanthropist Mampong has ever seen. He used his resources to touch many who would have suffered in life. Many people are today enjoying the benefits of Akosa‟s philanthropic gestures. One of those he helped to educate is now a medical doctor. All that Akosa expected from those he helped was for them to also help others who were less fortunate. Akosa was one of the people that contributed to the success of the Convention Peoples Party in the Ashanti Region. During the clashes between the National Liberation Movement and the Convention Peoples Party, Akosa‟s properties were destroyed. He was rewarded for his dedication to the party in1959 when he was appointed the District Commissioner for the Sekyere District. Akosa, although not from the ruling class in Mampong, was deeply involved in chieftaincy issues in the town. He involved himself in the enstoolment and destoolment of chiefs. This was because he had the wealth, connections and skills needed in embarking on such activities. Akosa had his own vision for the town and any chief that did not help in the realization of the dream was removed. He finally became the chief of Benim. This was after several years of refusal to become the chief. His stool name was Nana Akosa Brempong when he became a chief in 1981. At this point in Akosa‟s life, he was quite old and so could not do much. The biography of such a great man needs to be written so that the young ones can learn from his good behaviour and avoid the mistakes he made.