Victor Owusu

For the rapper with the same birth name, see V.I.C..

Victor Owusu (26 December 1923 – 16 December 2000) was a former Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He has also served as Attorney General and Justice minister as well as foreign minister on two separate occasions.

Early life

Born in Agona, Ashanti Region,^[1] Owusu trained as a lawyer. He was a prominent member of the National Liberation Movement which stood for the 1956 elections in the Gold Coast prior to elections.^[2] During the First Republic, he was detained under the Preventive Detention Act (1958) by the Kwame Nkrumah government. He was released after the 24 February 1966 coup d'état that brought in the military National Liberation Council (NLC) government. He was appointed Attorney General and Minister for Justice by the NLC.

Education

Victor Owusu attended Achimota School, where his classmates included K. B. Asante

In Government

He was a member of the Progress Party that won the 1969 elections.^[3] Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia appointed him foreign minister twice in the Second Republic. The first time was in 1969 and the second was between 1969 and 1971. On both occasions, he took over the portfolio from Patrick Dankwa Anin, who also served twice.^[4] The Second Republic came to an end with the 13 January 1972 coup led by General (then Colonel) I. K. Acheampong.

Leader of the opposition

Owusu was a founding member and leader of the Popular Front Party in the Third Republic. He was the runner-up to Dr. Hilla Limann of the People's National Party (PNP) in the 1979 Ghanaian presidential elections with 38% of the votes after the second round of voting.^[5] After the election, the PFP merged with other opposition parties to form the All People's Party (AFP) under Owusu's leadership.^[6] The AFP, along with other political parties, were banned after the 31 December 1981 coup by the Provisional National Defence Council led by Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings.

Later life

From 1991 until his death, Victor Owusu lived in Putney, London, UK. He died in London. He was married to Agnes Owusu.

Trivia

John Kufuor, president of Ghana, said he had practised as a junior in Victor Owusu's law firm.^[6] He was also an uncle of Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby.

References

1. Ghana Year Book, Daily Graphic, 1971.
2. "Elections in Ghana - 17 July 1956 Legislative Assembly Election". A database of election results in Sub-Saharan Africa. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
3. "Elections in Ghana - 29 August 1969 National Assembly Election". A database of election results in Sub-Saharan Africa. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
4. B. Schemmel. "Foreign ministers E-K - Ghana". Lists of heads of state of government and ministers of various countries. Rulers.org. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
5. "Elections in Ghana - June & July 1979 Presidential Election". A database of election results in Sub-Saharan Africa. Albert C. Nunley. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
6. "State burial for Victor Owusu". General News of Friday, 9 February 2001. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2007-05-04.

See also

• Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)