President Akufo-Addo has renamed the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region after George Grant, popularly called Paa Grant – the first leader of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), established in1947.
UMaT is now known as George Grant University of Mines and Technology.
The renaming ceremony took place on Friday at a special congregation held at the university to install former President John Agyekum Kufuor as the first Chancellor of the institution.
Chairman of the University Council, Dr. Stephen Yirenkyi, in an address, pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to allocate funds to the school for the completion of legacy projects to facilitate teaching and learning.
Paa Grant was a merchant and politician in the Gold Coast who is historically called “the father of Gold Coast politics.”
He was subsequently employed in the timber trade, first at Axim and then for five years in the Ivory Coast. In 1896, he established his own firm – George Grant and Company.
He prospered as a timber merchant, with a flourishing export business, at a time when the trade was dominated by European companies.
Paa Grant contributed significantly to the nation’s development in diverse ways.
Although he was a businessman, he was worried about the country’s political fortunes.
He remained the main financier of the UGCC – the first political movement – and it was he who sent money to Dr Kwame Nkrumah – Ghana’s first president – to come back to the Gold Coast and be appointed as the general secretary of the movement, after he had been recommended by Ako Adjei.
It would be recalled that early last year President Akufo-Addo laid a wreath in honour of George Paa Grant at Axim in the Nzema East municipality of the region.
He placed the wreath on the tomb of Paa Grant to honour him for his immense role in the struggle for Ghana’s independence.
The wreath laying formed part of the programmes of President Akufo-Addo, who was in the Western Region for a three-day official visit.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa