Some Eminent Old Boys

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Mr Kofi A Annan

Secretary General of The United Nations:

As a child, Annan's primary education occurred at the Mfantsipim School, a Methodist institution in Ghana. "There, I was privileged to have teachers who understood the value of knowledge infused with a moral purpose," he said. "They knew that learning and education are the strongest bulwarks against evil and ignorance. "And they taught me, in the spirit of faith," he added, "that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere and that the light of one candle can truly illuminate the world."  More..

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington.

Kofi Annan receiving his Nobel Prize from Gunnar Berge, Chairman of
the Norwegian Nobel Committee. (2001) More..

 

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Dr K.A Busia

Prime Minister of Ghana in the 2nd republic:

Kofi Abrefa Busia: 1913–78, political leader in Ghana. He was educated in Africa and in England and taught sociology in African, American, and European universities in the 1950s and 60s. He served (1951–59) in Ghana’s national assembly, where he was opposition leader against Nkrumah. In 1969 he became prime minister when his Progress party triumphed in the elections. Busia's government was overthrown in 1972. He died in Great Britain. More..

 

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Mr Alex Quaison-Sackey

Elected President of the nineteenth session of the general assembly:

Alex Quaison-Sackey, Born in Winneba, Ghana (then the Gold Coast) on the 9th of August 1924, Mr. Quaison-Sackey attended Mfantsipim School at Cape Coast and continued his studies at Achimota College.
In 1948, he was President of the Political Youth Organization in Winneba in the struggle for the Independence of Ghana. In England, he studied for an honours Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Exeter College, Oxford, from 1949 to 1952.  More..

 

 

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Mr Arthur Wharton

The first black professional footballer and world record holder of the 100 yard sprint:

Arthur Wharton: Born in Jamestown, Accra in 1865; his father was Henry Wharton a Methodist priest from Grenada, and his mother Annie Florence Egyriba was a member of the Fante royal house.

In 1879 he attended the Wesleyan Boys High School at Cape Coast.

In 1882 Arthur moved to England to train as a missionary, but quickly became bored with the academic and religious life and left school to pursue a sporting career.

Wharton cut a dash in fashionable Victorian society.	Rare playing card celebrating Wharton's 100 yard sprint.
Sporting legend
A place in football's Hall Of Fame.	Wharton'r grave in Ellington Cemetery , Doncaster.

A talented athlete, he set a new world record for the 100 yard dash (10 seconds) at Stamford Bridge in 1886. This success gave him the opportunity to compete in professional athletics tournaments, where he was able to make a living from appearance fees. His abilities also brought him to the attention of various professional football clubs.

He was first signed as a semi professional player with Preston North End in 1886, as goalkeeper, this made Wharton the first black professional footballer.

His highpoint with Preston was to make it to the FA Cup semi finals in 1887 where they lost 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion. There was speculation at the time that Arthur was good enough to play for England, but he was never considered for the position by the FA, due in part to the racial prejudice of the time.

He turned fully professional in 1889, when he signed for Rotherham United, and in 1894, Sheffield United poached him. Unfortunately, the move was not a success; he was getting older, and was competing with United's new and younger goalkeeper, Bill "Fatty" Foulke.Arthur's career then drifted as he moved from club to club to try and make a living.

He eventually retired from football in 1902. He died in 1930 never fully realising his potential because of the racial prejudice that existed at the time.

The National Football Museum

 

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