Ghana’s president who spent only three weeks in office-Nii Armah Ollenu

Ghana’s president who spent only three weeks in office as Head of State in the second Republic,Nii Armah Ollenu was a Politician and a Judge.

After the overthrown of Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah’s Administration in 1966 by the National Liberation Council (NLC), Nii Armah Ollenu was appointed as the interim president.

Nii Armah Ollenu was a Ga born at Labadi, Accra Ghana,on 21st May,1906.

He started his basic education at Sellem School at Osu in the Greater Accra.He furthered his secondary education at Accra High school and then proceeded to the first Teacher’s trainings School in Ghana, Presbyterian Teacher’s Training College, Akuapem Akropong in the Eastern region of Ghana where he studied Pedagogy and Theology.

After his success at PTC, Ollenu went to United Kingdom (UK) to study law at the Middle Temple, London.

He was called into the English Bar in the year 1940 after passing his law course perfectly with distinction.

He came back to Ghana to practice law for a couple of years before he became a High Court Judge.He was also a tutor at the University of Ghana,Legon.

He became a representative in the legislative council in 1950 but he failed to retain his seat after the 1951 general elections.

He  was among the people who opposed the Nkrumah’s administration, which fall in the 1966 coup.

In the year 1970, he was appointed as the acting president of Ghana by National Liberation Council administration led by General Akwasi Amankwah Afrifa from 7th August, 1970-31st August, 1970.

This made him the the president who spent only three weeks in office.

He also served as the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament under the Busia and Edward Akuffo Addo’s administration after he has handed over as acting president in Second Republic.

Nii Armah Ollenu married four  times before his dismissal.

Nii Armah married a relative of Dr.Kofi Abrefa Busia, Emily Jiage, Charlotte Amy Sawyer and Nana Afua Frema.

Nii Armah Ollenu was among the founding fathers of the famous Legon Lodge.

A proud daughter of Nii Armah Ollenu,

Afua Ollenu Busia was appointed as Ghana’s ambassador to Denmark in the year 2017.

He died in December 1986.