A Memorial and Thanksgiving Service was held yesterday Thursday 22nd March, 2018 for the late Prof. A.H.O Mensah at the forecourt of the East Wing Faculty Block.

This was attended by Management of MUCG, the family members of the late Prof. A.H.O Mensah, Faculty members, Staff and Students.

The following scriptures were read by a family member and a faculty member. (John 14:1-6,27, Revelation 7:9 -17)
The Homily given by the Vice Principal Very Rev. Prof. Edusa-Eyison.

Below is the biography of the late Prof. A.H.O Mensah.

 

Anthony Harry Owusu Mensah was born on October 15th, 1933, in Kwaso in the Ashanti Region. His father, Nana Owusu Premoo, worked as a goldsmith and later became Nkonsonhene, a Kumasi Divisional Chief. His mother, Madam Abena Nyarko (alias Abena Amakom) was a homemaker. Anthony (alias Tony) was the fifth child of his parents.

At an early age, Tony demonstrated an unerring knack for academic excellence and success. He started his education at a kindergarten called Konongo Catholic School. And continued his primary and middle school education at the Government Boys School, Kumasi, where he completed his studies in 1948. After passing his common entrance examination with distinction, he gained admission to Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast.

In 1952/53, he was admitted to Prempeh College for his 6th form education where he was one of the 50 pioneers of the school. In addition to this achievement, Tony also attained a Cambridge Higher School Certificate.

He was an avid football enthusiast who played not only for his school teams at Mfantsipim and Prempeh College, but also professionally for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs, now known as Abusua Dwarfs.

Tony was known among his colleagues and friends for his intelligence, diligence and academic excellence. After his 6th Form education at Prempeh College, he won a Ghana Government scholarship to study Economics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with a Bachelors degree in January 1959.

Subsequent to that, Tony continued his studies and enrolled at New York University (NYU) School of Business and graduated with an MBA in Industrial Relations and Political Economy in June 1960.

Upon his return, he was employed by United Africa Company (UAC/ Unilever Ghana) and served in various managerial capacities in Ghana, Nigeria, Britain, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, from 1960 to 1966.While working at UAC, Tony was seconded to the Government of Ghana and due to his vast years of experience, he became the Founding Manager/Director of the Commercial Service of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (G.B.C 2) from 1968 to 1971. While serving as the head of GBC 2, he also concurrently worked for Sterling-Winthrop Pharmaceutical Company (USA) from 1968 to 1976 as a Marketing Manager.

His next secondment was to the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation, where he was appointed as the Founding Managing Director. At the time of his appointment, the company was experiencing challenges, but under his leadership he reorganized it, built several food distribution depots (aka yellow kiosks) and staffed them with agents all over the country. Tony served in this capacity from 1971 to 1972.

On his third secondment to the Government in 1976, he was appointed to the University of Ghana Business School which was formerly the School of Administration. In this role, he was a lecturer and coordinator for four different departments, including one for consultancy. In that capacity he partnered with the Electricity Company of Ghana on various training programs for their staff.

Tony was known by friends and family as a very studious person who always looked for ways to advance his knowledge and took advantage of the slightest opportunity afforded him. His quest for knowledge and expertise earned him an election to the International Bankers Association as a Fellow in Washington DC, in May of 1977.

Tony’s quest for academic excellence at the highest level led him to pursue a PhD degree. His initial inclination was to do his PhD in Business Administration, but at that time, there was no one available to supervise his work, so he decided to study Political Economy in the Political Science department of the University of Ghana, Legon.

During his tenure at the University of Ghana, and while still pursuing his PhD, UAC asked him to return to the company. They had identified him as the right person to groom for the chairmanship of UAC (now Unilever Ghana Ltd.). However, after careful review of the situation, he decided to stay with the University of Ghana, complete his PhD and continue with his passion for teaching, as a lecturer.

After his PhD, Tony continued to lecture at the school of administration and during his sabbatical leave, also lectured at the University of Nigeria. The combined time at both universities spanned from 1976 to 1997.

As a senior lecturer at the school of administration for 25 years, Professor Mensah taught a lot of students who are now occupying key positions in the country. Notable among these students are: Mr. Sekyere Abankwah, MD Prudential Bank Limited, Mr. Stephen Akuoku past MD ECG, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of State for National Security, CEO of Zenith College and EPP books, and many more.

As an academic, Professor Mensah was a prolific researcher and author on both social and academic issues. He had about 22 articles to his credit with most of them published in reputable international academic journals. Professor Mensah loved to write and as a result, he was the one mostly tasked by his colleagues (pioneers of Prempeh College) to write tributes when any of their friends passed on.

As previously noted in the early part of his career, Prof. had many more accomplishments beyond the realm of academia.

He was a marketing consultant to Societe Generale which was formerly SSB Bank. And he worked in partnership with Mr Abedi to design an emblem (the lion) and slogan for the bank; which was “Sound Secure Banking.’’

One of his milestone accomplishments was to be named as the first African General Manager of the company, Lyntax.

Prof. was a member of Ghana Association of Consultants and member of Advertising Association of Ghana.

He established an Advertising consultancy firm with Mr Atta-Krofa and consulted for various companies in Ghana. For his exemplary work, in 2015, the Advertising Association of Ghana recognized him with a Lifetime Achievement award, as the first secretary of the Ghana Advertising Association.

Prof. Mensah was also a project consultant for United Nations. He did a comprehensive study on Ghana’s Textile industry and wrote a report to the UNIDO. He was also the Chief Technical adviser coordinating the work of 22 national and international consultants for International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNDP.

He served on several Boards and was appointed by the Government of Ghana as the Board Chairman for Ghana Co-operative Bank (1974 – 1976), Board Chairman, Juapong Textiles in (1989 – 1997), and Board Chairman, Bonsa Tyres Ghana Limited from (1990 – 1997).

Prof. Mensah also worked with the National Accreditation Board extensively to assess and issue accreditation for certain programmes at many private universities in Ghana. These include Central University College, Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Ho, Pan African University college, Pentecost University College, Christian Service University Kumasi, and Baptist University, Kumasi. He also assessed the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Business School before they were given the full accreditation to start their business school.

After retiring from the University of Ghana, Prof. joined Central University College as the Founding Dean for their School of Business Administration and Management. As a devout Methodist, he was called upon by Most Rev Dr. Asante-Antwi and Rev. Marfo to establish a university for the Methodist Church Ghana in 2000. Prof. became the Founding Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration for the Methodist University College, Ghana. The university which started with 213 students now has a student population of over 7000 and many students have since graduated.

He also taught at the Evangelical Presbyterian University on part time basis and even won the best Lecturer Award in 2015. He later joined the Zenith University College as the Vice dean of the Business school. Prof. was loved by his students and he also enjoyed their company. Just before his demise he was still lecturing at three universities on a part-time basis. He often described teaching as his second nature and did it with so much passion and delight. Prof. was a people person, down-to-earth and caring man whose generosity was enviable.

He was one of a kind, who was always beaming with smiles and sharing jokes. He was a great husband, a father to many, a great counsellor, a mentor and a friend.

Professor Mensah was deeply loved by his nuclear and extended family and he was the Abusuapanyin for the Ekuona clan of Kotei. Uncle Tony provided support for his nephews and nieces and thus contributed to their healthcare and educational needs. His home at Dome CFC was the rallying point for many. He was always there to give advice and continuously made peace with all. The Ekuona clan has lost a great gem, a unifier, the cynosure of all eyes in the family. His wise counsel and calm demeanor will be sorely missed.

Prof. Mensah’s first marriage did not work out. He subsequently got married to Mrs. Evelyn Mensah (nee Boafo) whom he married for forty-five years until his death. He was also survived by nine children.

Prof. Anthony Harry Owusu Mensah, rest in perfect peace.