Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, born on July 11, 1913, in Wenchi, Gold Coast (now Ghana), was a prominent Ghanaian scholar, statesman, and political leader. He is best known for serving as the Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. Busia’s life and career were marked by his deep commitment to democratic governance, his academic pursuits, and his efforts to address the complex challenges facing post-colonial Africa.

Busia hailed from a prominent family in Wenchi, with his father serving as a Methodist catechist. He was one of the first Africans from the then-Gold Coast to gain admission to the prestigious Mfantsipim School, where he excelled academically. After completing his secondary education, Busia attended the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana) and later went on to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where he earned a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. His academic journey continued with a D.Phil. from Oxford, making him one of the first Africans to achieve such a distinction.

Busia's academic career was distinguished by his work as a sociologist and anthropologist. He conducted extensive research on the social and political systems of African societies, focusing particularly on the Ashanti people. His work in this field garnered international recognition, and he became a professor of sociology at the University College of the Gold Coast. Busia was deeply committed to the study of African traditions and governance, and he used his academic platform to advocate for the decolonization and modernization of African societies.

In the political arena, Busia was a central figure in the struggle for independence in the Gold Coast. He was a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), a political party that played a pivotal role in the push for self-government. However, ideological differences led to a split within the UGCC, and Busia became a leading figure in the newly formed National Liberation Movement (NLM), which opposed the centralized approach of Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party (CPP).

Following Ghana's independence in 1957, Busia became a vocal critic of Nkrumah's government, particularly its authoritarian tendencies and the suppression of political opposition. His opposition led to his exile in 1959, during which he continued his academic work and political activism from abroad, mainly in the United Kingdom and the United States.

After Nkrumah was overthrown in a military coup in 1966, Busia returned to Ghana and became a prominent leader in the country's post-coup government. He was elected Prime Minister in 1969 after the military government transitioned power back to civilian rule. During his tenure, Busia sought to promote economic liberalization, decentralization, and the restoration of democracy in Ghana. However, his government faced significant challenges, including economic difficulties, labor unrest, and opposition from military factions.

Busia's tenure as Prime Minister was cut short in 1972 when he was overthrown in a military coup led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. Following the coup, Busia went into exile once again, where he continued to write and speak on African development and governance until his death on August 28, 1978, in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia's legacy is complex, reflecting his dual roles as both a scholar and a statesman. He is remembered for his intellectual contributions to the understanding of African societies and his efforts to promote democracy in Ghana. However, his time as Prime Minister remains a subject of debate, with some viewing his policies as visionary and others criticizing his handling of economic and social issues.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Abrefa_Busia