The F.K. Buah Assembly Hall at Tema Secondary School (Temasco) hosted the third F.K. Buah Memorial Lecture on Thursday, 21 November 2024, on the theme “F.K. Buah: The Person, Educationist, Author and Statesman.”

 Professor Jemmy Felix Takrama, Associate Professor at Central University, Miotso-Tema, who honoured the legacy of one of Ghana’s most influential educationists and historians.

Celebrating a legacy of dedication and service

The lecture offered a deep dive into the life of Dr. F.K. Buah, whose contributions to education, literature, and public service remained unparalleled.

Professor Takrama, a former student of Dr. Buah, reflected on his personal connection with the legendary figure. “F.K. Buah took a chance on a raw village boy 55 years ago by admitting me to the great Tema Secondary School. His guidance shaped my life and the lives of many others,” he said.

Dr. F.K. Buah’s career spanned decades, during which he served as the founding headmaster of St. John’s School, Sekondi (1952–1958), and Tema Secondary School (1961–1975). His tenure as an educationist extended beyond school walls, influencing Ghana’s educational policies through his roles with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).

The lecture’s focus

Professor Takrama’s presentation explored Dr. Buah’s interpersonal relationships, his approach to education, and his influence as a prolific author. He highlighted Buah’s leadership style, which was characterized by a meticulous, scientific approach, and his unyielding dedication to nurturing young minds. The lecture also included personal anecdotes and reflections from former students, including Evelyn Appiah-Donyina, who described Buah as a “father figure” and a man who instilled pride and self-respect in his students.

A pioneer in education and literature

Dr. Buah was renowned for his contributions to history education through seminal works such as History of Ghana and History of West Africa. Published by Macmillan, these books remained foundational texts in West African education. His achievements in academia earned him numerous accolades, including a Doctor of Education (Honoris Causa) from the Albert Einstein International Academy Foundation in 1993.

A life of public service

Beyond education, Dr. Buah served as Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry (1979) and later as Minister for Education (1980–1981) under President Hilla Limann. He played a pivotal role in shaping educational reforms and was instrumental in the development of the Twifo Oil Palm Plantation Project, showcasing his commitment to national development.

A fitting tribute

The memorial lecture celebrated Dr. Buah’s enduring legacy. His contributions to education, history, and governance left indelible marks on Ghana and beyond. Attendees experienced a detailed account of his life, punctuated by moments of inspiration and reflection, as Professor Takrama honored the memory of a man whose motto, Nil Nisi Optima (Nothing But the Best), continued to inspire generations.

The Tema Secondary School community and the public came together to pay tribute to this remarkable man who dedicated his life to education, service, and excellence.

Read the full address below.

THIRD F. K. BUAH MEMORIAL LECTURES

TITLE: F. K. BUAH: THE PERSON, EDUCATIONIST, AUTHOR AND STATESMAN

LECTURER: PROFESSOR JEMMY FELIX TAKRAMA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, MIOTSO-TEMA, GHANA

VENUE: F. K. BUAH ASSEMBLY HALL OF TEMA SECONDARY SCHOOL

DATE & TIME: NOVEMBER 21, 2024 AT 3:00P.M.

It is with great pride that I accepted to deliver the 3^rd F. K. Buah Memorial lectures. This is because F. K. Buah took a chance on a raw village boy some 55 years ago by admitting him into the great Tema Secondary School (TEMASCHO). The first F. K. Buah Memorial lecture was delivered by Kwesi Pratt, Jnr., a senior, one year ahead of me and my friend. And of course, a renowned Journalist of international repute. His presentation was titled, “F. K. Buah: History Education as an instrument of Development”. I have no intention of matching up his presentation as Kwesi Pratt, Jnr. falls into a category of his own. My presentation, titled “F K Buah: The Person, Educationist, Author and Statesman” is meant to throw light on the personality of, F. K. Buah and his achievements. This presentation will focus on his interpersonal relationships, how other people viewed him, who we think he was (as we never really figured it out) as well as his approach to doing things. It will be a scientific approach, as what I got out of Tema Secondary School was making a Scientist out of a village boy. This simply means, facts and figures and how they distilled into making F. K. Buah, the man he was.

I had a personal relationship with F. K. Buah, starting from the very first day I met him at my school admission interview and through my secondary school days at TEMASCHO. In the 1960s and 70s, it was standard practice to admit students into secondary schools by interviewing them. I was invited to an interview at Mawuli Secondary School at Ho, in the Volta Region, for students in the catchment area. I was among 10 students who attended. Coming from a village in the now Afadjato South District of Ghana, I arrived at the interview in my L. A. Middle School dress barefooted as a tiny boy. To our surprise and amazement, the would-be headmaster, Mr. F. K. Buah, was also present at Ho! The interview was simple. We were made to read a paragraph from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. It is common knowledge that village school pupils don’t read good but I think we did our best. After the interview, F. K. Buah interacted with us all on a one-on-one basis. I can recall him standing up, looking very big and bending down facing me as a father to a son, and holding his knees with his hands, as he asked me why I choose Tema Secondary School. I told him the Headteacher of our Middle School chose it for me. He smiled and asked if I will be happy to come. I said yes, with a big smile, and said I will like to see the Tema Harbor. He smiled lovingly and let me go. I am sure he was wildly amused by my bare feet, especially getting to know later that FK (that was how he was known to all of us students) was always impeccably dressed. He went over to the other students. Six of the students interviewed were admitted with all of us granted the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board Scholarships. Of course, without that scholarship I couldn’t have enrolled as I had passed to a secondary school the previous year and could not go because I was told I was not old enough (meaning no money). With all students from Ho admitted, granted CMB scholarships, it was obvious Dr FK Buah went out of his way to secure those scholarships on our behalf as part of his recruitment drive. This goes to show that FK knew very well how to get things done.

Another student, Evelyn Appiah-Donyina also attended such admission interviews in 1967. And this is what she had to say. “I first met FK in person in 1967 when I attended the interview for admission to Temascho. I was fascinated by the idea that I was going to attend a school whose head had written a book and when he asked my reason for selecting the school, I told him just that. Indeed. many years after, anytime he came to Legon, he will tell this story to whoever he met in my office”. There are other countless stories from past students about their first interaction with FK. They were always warm. Evelyn continued, in fact I couldn’t put it any differently, “FK was a father figure and a role model who instilled a lot of pride and sense of self respect in his students. More than anything else, he taught us to take pride in our school and our country. FK himself lived and breathed Temascho, and he continued to take a keen interest in the school's affairs long after his retirement”.

When I got to Form 5, I elected to go to Accra Academy for my 6^th Form. This did not go down well with FK, so on noticing that I was admitted to Accra Academy, FK invited me to his office (my uncle was a Tutor at Temascho so he had access to me). On arrival in his office, he asked me if I would like to come back to Temascho for the 6^th Form. According to him, he didn’t see any reason why he should train students in his school only to be taken up by other schools. So, I agreed to come back. He immediately wrote a letter asking Accra Academy to release me. I took the letter to the Headmaster of Accra Academy and asked to be released. The Headmaster did not agree to the request with the weak excuse that Accra Academy will like to keep me because my step-mother was also the German Teacher in that school. That is how I ended up staying in Accra Academy. I was sorry to have disappointed FK for the love he showed me particularly throughout my Temascho years.

This is how Evelyn Appiah-Donyina (Tosa 72) concluded her tribute to FK, “All in all, FK was a great man, whose life of hard work, love for his country and diligence, as well as keen pursuit of excellence are worthy of emulation”. Evelyn also reminded us of one of FK's favourite quotations with which FK always ended his pep talks to the entire student body at the end of each school term: "Lives of great men all remind us; We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us; Footprints in the sands of time"

THE PERSON

FK was born on 11 August 1922 in Twifo Mampoma near Twifo Praso in the Twifo Heman Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region of Ghana. His elementary education was at Twifo Mampoma and continued his secondary education at St. Theresa’s Junior Seminary, Amisano, near Elmina. He proceeded to the University College of Cork (Ireland), graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1951 with a Double First Class Honors in History and Economics. He was awarded a university college of Cork scholarship to read a Masters Degree in Politico-economic History. He was the first to obtain a university degree in the Twifo Heman Lower Denkyira District. FK Buah was married with three daughters, Rose, Elizabeth and Francisca.  He was married to Mrs Beatrice Buah. He attended the Catholic church. His children described him as “Africa’s window into the past”

WORKING LIFE

1. Teacher at St. Theresa’s Junior Seminary at Amisano, near Elmina

History Teacher, Achimota School (Head of Department)  

• St. John’s School, Secondi, 1952-1958 (First Headmaster)
• Tema Secondary School, 1961-1975 (First Headmaster) He was appointed by the President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah who built several Ghana Trust Secondary Schools.

REV FR FK BUAH

There is evidence to indicate that FK trained as a Catholic Priest exiting St Theresa’s Junior Seminary. In the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District, FK was popularly known as Father Buah. To set the record straight, FK Buah was referred to as Rev Fr Buah when he was described as the founding headmaster of St. John’s Secondary School, Secondi. Past students of St. John’s Secondary School shared memories of their headmaster as “the priest in an immaculately white cassock celebrating mass on Sundays, the school mass, open to all students, Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim and the solemnity with which he applied the penitential rite on Ash Wednesdays”. It is on record also that Father Buah was requested by the Catholic Church to discontinue his postgraduate Masters’ program in Cork University, Ireland, and proceed home to head St. John’s School when the originally proposed headmaster Fr. Beenker was taken terminally ill. St. John’s school was the first Catholic Secondary School in the Western Region. He obliged and became the first headmaster of the newly built school in 1952. In 1958, a reorganization was to place St. John’s School under the congregation of the Holy Cross. This meant re-posting Fr. Buah to Europe. Fr. Buah did not find this arrangement favourable so he resigned, severing relations with the Catholic Church and St. John’s. It took the bidding of respected friends like J. J. Mensah Kane for Fr. Buah to relent. But his mind was made up. He returned to the Church but as an “ideal layman”. Case closed.

DEATH

FK was involved in a near fatal accident on the Accra-Cape Coast road in 1999 and had to be hospitalized for two months. He had a heart attack in 2000 and had to be fitted with a pace maker. “FK was very proud of Temasco and all the students who passed through the school. He once said that nothing pleased him more than those occasions when he went to an organisation and met some of his past students who will make sure he was promptly attended to. He once mentioned that after his near-fatal accident on the Winneba Road he was rushed to the emergency ward at the Military Hospital where an old student who was on duty virtually moved heaven and earth to get him the best attention possible. He always spoke with a lot of pride about the old students’ group in London who often held a function in his honour when he travelled there.” Evelyn (TOSA 72), noted.

Even with this health problems he continued to write books and attend to other projects. He completed and launched his last book, “Government in West Africa” in July 2005; and on the 4^th of December 2005, he passed on peacefully.

THE EDUCATIONIST

Dr F. K. Buah worked in Education his entire life. His full-time job was as headmaster of St. John’s and Tema Secondary Schools. His extraordinary work with WAEC and CHASS were his most notable extracurricular educational activities. According to K. B. Takyi (former MP, Twifo Hemang Lo wer Denkyira District), “What we can do, and should do, is to immortalize the memory of Dr FK Buah by paying attention to what was closest to his heart: EDUCATION. FK believed that EDUCATION decides EVERYTHING”. The numerous candidates FK assessed while working with the WAEC from the Middle School Leaving Certificate and Common Entrance Examination days through to the Ordinary and Advanced Levels attest to his place in history as an Educationist extraordinaire. Dr F. K. Buah worked part-time with the West African Examinations Council his entire life while holding full-time positions as headmaster of St. John’s School and Tema Secondary school.

HIS WORK AT TEMA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Tema Secondary School was opened in September 1961, with a first year three-stream of 105 pupils, with Mr FK Buah as its first headmaster. Mr Buah laid a firm foundation and developed the school which made rapid strides. He steered the school straight to the sixth form within the first six years of its foundation, promoting not only high academic standard but also sound character training. With the exception of the newest classroom and Home Science blocks which were on the drawing board when he retired, all the school buildings and the staff houses sprang up under his administration. His own eminence as an educationist and a prolific author of history textbook for schools, coupled with his notable role in organizations such as the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Conference of Heads of Assisted Schools (CHASS), and the West African Examinations Council, brought fame to the school he headed for 15 years. It is little wonder that FK’s name is to this day synonymous with Temascho. FK retired in August 1975

Interestingly, it is noted that FK visited Tema Secondary School regularly, when in good health, in his retirement years. On such visits he would interact with students, teachers and the headmaster. FK is one of the few educationists whose names have been etched in gold in the annals of education in Ghana. It is noted that FK has left a worthy and lasting memorial in the existence of Tema Secondary School and the exploits in all areas of our national life of many personalities who passed through the walls of the school. In November 2001, the TOSA 76-year group erected the Bust on the school campus in memory of FK. He was very appreciative of the honor done him and admonished all present to uphold the school motto: NIL NISI OPTIMA.

HIS WORK WITH THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (WAEC)

The following is a catalogue of positions he held with the West African Examinations Council.

1952-1959 – FK was appointed Assistant Examiner for English composition at both Middle School Leaving Certificate and the Common Entrance Examination levels. He was also Assistant Examiner of Ordinary Level History. He became Chief Examiner and the Moderator for O-Level and A-Level History

In early 1960s to 1979 he became a Reviser and a Moderator for A-Level Economic History and General Paper. According to WAEC, FK was found so dependable that they could send scripts to him without prior notice. As a chief examiner he trained several generations of O-Level and A-Level History and A-Level Economic History Examiners. During this period (Early 1960s – 1979) FK became a member of the Working Parties and International Panels for History and General Paper.

In 1967 FK was elected onto the Ghana National Committee, the highest body of WAEC in Ghana. He remained a member of this council until 1975. On his retirement he was again appointed as Government nominee on the WAEC council from 1976-1979.

At the 15^th Annual Council Meeting held in Ghana in 1967 FK was appointed Vice Chairman of Council and again at the 21^st Annual Council Meeting held in Ghana FK was again appointed Vice Chairman. These were one-year tenure positions which he held creditably, according to WAEC.

As Council Member he served on the following Committees

1968-1979 International Administrative and Finance Committee

1968-1979 International Appointment Committee

1969-1974 Examinations Committee

1967-1979 Ghana Administrative and Finance Committee

1971-1975 Final Award Committee

In 1993 FK Buah was decorated by WAEC with the prestigious honour of “Distinguished Friend
of the Council” based on the following criteria:

1. Distinguished Friend of the Council Outstanding contribution towards successful achievement of the Council’s objectives
2. Long standing and continued interest in Council affairs leading to an improvement of Council’s work
3. Tangible assistance to Council and its development 

HIS WORK WITH THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF ASSISTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS (CHASS)

At time of his appointment as Headmaster of Tema Secondary School, there were two Conferences of Heads of Secondary schools: (1) Conference of Heads of Secondary Schools (Church established boarding schools) and (2) Conference of Heads of Encouraged and Day Secondary Schools (Temascho included here). There were vast differences in salaries of Heads in these two categories of schools. FK, together with some colleagues found this unfair and fought for fairness, equity and equality of Heads of all Secondary Schools in the country. The result of their effort resulted in the formation of one body known as Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) on 9 April 1962. For his role as founding member, FK was appointed member of the first National Executive of CHASS.  FK was appointed Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional CHASS. He held this position until 1965.

OTHER APPOINTMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY OF GHANA AND UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

1. Part-time Lecturer at the University of Ghana (Extramural Studies and the Institute of Education)
2. Member, University Council, University of Cape Coast;
3. Chairman of the University Council. University of Cape Coast

AWARDS

1951 – Exhibition in History at the National University of Ireland

1978 – Fellow of the International Biographical Association, Cambridge, UK

1993 – Doctor of Education (Honoris causa) Albert Einstein International Academy Foundation

AUTHOR

FK was described by Macmillan Publishers, London, as a great author and friend of Macmillan and one of the bedrocks on which their successful African business was founded in the nineteen sixties. According to Macmillan, “Generations of primary children in Ghana and other West African countries were delighted to be introduced to History through his Elementary History”. FK’s History of West Africa and History of Ghana were respected works, beautifully written in a classical English style. FK was among its illustrious list of authors, according to Macmillan. F. K. Buah published nine books.

As author, FK introduced the use of singular forms of plurals of Ghanaian names (as used in his writings) e.g. The Asante, the Twifo, the Fante, the Ewe, the Efutu, the Nzema, etc. These terms replaced former terms like Asantes, Twifos, Ewes; terms he inherited in the literature.

During the launching of his book, “Government in West Africa” in 2005, the then Minister of Education and Sports, Mr. Osafo Yaw Maafo, noted that only very few people could be writing books at the age of 83, instead of personal memoirs. Mr Osafo Maafo said the Ministry was aware of the immense contribution of FK to Ghana’s educational system and indicated that the book would serve “as text that would sharpen the skills of students of government in the country”. He described the book as “knowledge personified” and recommended it for use by students.

Prof Ivan Addae-Mensah, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who was the chairman of the book launch, indicated that but for the military intervention in 1979, the educational reform programme that Dr F. K. Buah and others were drafting for the Limann government would have been completed and implemented. Prof Addae-Mensah described the author as “a doyen in Education”

Mr. Kwaku Ansah Asare, the then Director of Readwide Limited, publishers of the book, noted that they were keen to publish Dr F. K. Buah’s book because they were placing greater focus on local publishing.  These books that he wrote have immortalized both his name and that of Tema Secondary School.

SOME PUBLICATIONS OF DR FK BUAH

Buah, F. K. (1 January 1961). Objective questions and answers in history. Macmillan St.Martin's.

Buah, F. K. (1 January 1963). History for Ghana schools. Macmillan.

Davidson, Basil; Buah, F. K. (1967). The growth of African civilization: a history of West Africa 1000-1800. London: Longmans.

Buah, F. K. (1 January 1977). West Africa since AD 1000: The People. Macmillan.

Buah, F. K. (1 January 1977). West Africa since AD 1000: The People and Outsiders. Macmillan.

Buah, F. K. (1980). A history of Ghana. London: Macmillan.

THE STATESMAN

In 1979, DR FK Buah was appointed by Dr Hilla Limann, who was the president of Ghana as the Minister for Trade and Industry. In 1980, he was moved to be the Minister for Education. He held this position until the Limann government was overthrown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council led by Jerry Rawlings in December 1981.

In 1979, Mr. KB Takyi replaced Dr FK Buah as member of Parliament for the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira Constituency when FK became a member of President HIlla Liman’s government. While in government he still collaborated with KB Takyi to create a new district out of the old one, and planned several Educational, Social and Economic development projects for the district. Together with KB they played a premier role in making the Twifo Oil Palm Plantation Project (TOPP) a reality through active persuasion and meetings and dialogues with landowners, farmers and opinion leaders of the area. This is KB Takyi’s assessment of FK: “I would immediately recognize his HUMILITY which he displayed in various forms. He was ready to respect, listen and consider the opinions and suggestions from all and sundry. He had the highest respect and admiration for knowledge, truth and education and would not restrain his encouragement for people with such qualities. Another quality of his, was his WILLINGNESS to SERVE. To him SERVICE was an OCCUPATION. His life was an elaboration of service to his fellows and mankind. He was a role model to all who worked with him. Here was an open-minded gentleman: fair and just and without negative prejudices. He shunned vindictiveness”. FK showed great respect for the Paramount chiefs of the Twifo District Traditional area. FK was passionate about culture and tradition.

FK helped in the establishment of Twifo Praso Teacher Training College which is now Twifo Praso Secondary School. Even in his eighties, FK was a member of the Board of Governors of the Twifo Praso Seondary school. He promoted sports in the district by donating a magnificent trophy competed for in the District inter-schools sports competition. He was the first Twifo born to have been elected to parliament in the Third Republic and later a Minister of Education

During the launching of his 9th book, “Government in West Africa” in 2005, he advised Politicians to desist from using titles like ‘Excellency, Honorable, etc” because these titles in themselves do not mean anything and neither added anything to the portfolios but rather made politicians alienated from the people who elected them to office. He advised Ghanaian politicians to emulate leaders like George W. Bush (US) and Tony Blair (UK) who never prefixed their names with any titles. This shows the simplicity FK Buah exemplified. He emphasized that what you achieve is what matters as a statesman.

REFERENCES

1. First F. K. Buah Memorial Lectures, November 2022. www.home.peacefmonline.com Accessed November 2024
2. No.1504: Obituary: F. K. Buah. www.laits.utexas.edu. Retrieved November 2024
3. Wikipedia, ‘F. K. Buah’. Accessed November 2024
4. Obituary Brochure: F. K. Buah, 2005.