Joseph Henry Mensah

Joseph Henry Mensah (born 31 October 1928) is a former Ghanaian politician and economist.

Education

Mensah attended the University of the Gold Coast (now University of Ghana) between 1948-1954. He then headed to University of London then Stanford University, where he earned his both a bachelor's and master's degree with a specialization in economic theory and development. In 1954, Mensah became a Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Ghana, which lasted until 1958.

Political career

Mensah began working as an assistant inspector of taxes in 1953 while the Gold Coast was still under colonial rule. In 1958, Mensah joined the United Nations Secretariat at the Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies, in New York, United States. Mensah returned to Ghana in 1961 as the Head of Agency at the National Planning commission. The National Planning commission drew and implemented the country's Seven-Year Development Plan (1962-1969). In 1969, he was elected to parliament and became the Finance minister until 1972, when he was replaced by future head of state Ignatius Kutu Acheampong after the military coup.

Post Coup

Beginning in 1974, Mensah worked in the private sector both in Ghana and abroad. He was imprisoned by the National Redemption Council from 1975 to 1978. Although banned from political activity in 1979, he was active for the Popular Front Party in the 1979 elections. He also served as Chairman of the Sunyani District Council in Brong-Ahafo Region (1979-1981), and proprietor of Banka Farms. Exiled in England, in 1983 he headed a group opposing the PNDC. He also served on the African Advisory Council of the African Development Bank from 1993-1997. In December 1996, Mensah contested a parliamentary seat in Sunyani East District as a member of the New Patriotic Party, which he won. He was re-elected in 2000. Prior to John Kufuor's election in 2001, Mensah was the minority leader in Parliament.

References

• Joseph Henry Mensah GhanaWeb.com
• Joseph Henry Mensah at African People Database

Political offices
Preceded by Akwasi Afrifa	Minister for Finance1 (NLC) ? – ?	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Minister for Finance 1969 – 1972	Succeeded by Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
Preceded by ?	Minister and Leader of Government Business 2001 – 2003	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Albert Kan Dapaah	Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme 2003 – 2005	Succeeded by Paa Kwesi Nduom
Preceded by New Position	Senior Minister 2005 – 2006	Succeeded by abolished
Parliament of Ghana
Preceded by Parliament suspended	Member of Parliament 1969 – 1972	Succeeded by Parliament suspended
Preceded by Ato Quarshie	Member of Parliament for Sunyani East 1997 – 2009	Succeeded by Kwasi Ameyaw-Cherimeh
Notes and references
1. STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS (SAPS) IN GHANA: INTERROGATING PNDC's IMPLEMENTATION ISSN 1525-4488