Alex A. Y. Kyerematen

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Alex A. Y. Kyerematen
Commissioner for Local Government
In office
1966–1969
Appointed byJoseph Arthur Ankrah
Preceded byMumuni Bawumia
Succeeded byK. K. Anti
Personal details
Born(1916-04-29)29 April 1916
Kumasi, Gold Coast
Died1976 (aged 59–60)
NationalityGhanaian
ChildrenAlan John Kyerematen
EducationDoctorate
Alma materOxford University
ProfessionSocial anthropologist

Alexander Atta Yaw Kyerematen (1916 – 1976)[1] was a Ghanaian social anthropologist and the commissioner for local government from 1966 to 1969. Kyeremanten was the first director of the Ghana National Culture Centre in Kumasi and previously also served as Town Clerk of the Kumasi Municipal Council.[2][1][3]

Early life and education[edit]

Kyerematen was born in Kumasi on 29 April 1916.[4] He had his early education at Kumasi Government Boys School from 1923 to 1931, and his secondary education at Adisadel College in Cape Coast from 1932 to 1936. During his final year in the school, he served as head boy. Kyerematen continued his education at Fourah Bay College from 1939 to 1940. He also studied at St. Chad's College, Durham, (from 1946 to 1947) where he received his BA degree. Kyerematen also studied at Keble College, Oxford, from 1947 to 1950, and at King's College, Cambridge, from 1965 to 1966. From Oxford University he earned a diploma in Anthropology in 1948, a Bachelor of Letters in 1950 and his doctorate degree in 1966.[1]

Kyerematen was awarded a United National Fellowship in 1952 to study federal–state or provincial–city government and diplomatic service in Canada and the United States for six months.[citation needed] During this period, the Canadian government awarded him a diploma in public administration.[1] In 1960, he received a grant from the Italian government to study organization of cultural institutions for nine months.[citation needed] In 1963, the Federal Republic of Germany invited Kyerematen to be part of a five-man team to visit cultural institutions in Germany.[1]

Career[edit]

Kyeremanten served as secretary to the Asanteman council and was a research fellow of African studies at the University College of the Gold Coast. He was also the town clerk for the Kumasi Municipal Council in the 1950s, a position which is equivalent to being a mayor.

Kyerematen established the Kumasi Cultural Centre (later the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi) and served as its first director.[1][5][6] In this role, he aided in the acquisition of land from the Asantehene for the construction of the center and allowances required to finance projects for the center.[7] He also directed many plays for the Centre. Kyerematen acted as vice-president of the Sociological Society of Ghana[8] and served as chairman of the council of the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

Kyerematen was also a member of several associations in Ghana, such as Historical Society of Ghana, The Sociological Society of Ghana, and The Society of Town Clerks of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Alex A. Y. Kyerematen married Victoria Kyerematen. Together they had six children, three boys and three girls.[9] Ghanaian politician Alan John Kyerematen is his third son.[10][11] He enjoyed art, music, dance, and drama.[1]

Alex A. Y. Kyerematen died in 1976, aged 59 or 60.[12][4]

Publications[edit]

  • Adae-Kesie festival in Kumasi (1952)
  • Asante Cultural Center (1958)
  • Regalia for an Asante Durbar (1961)
  • Panoply of Ghana (1964)[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Ocran, J. K. (20 August 1967). Sunday Mirror: Issue 732, August 20 1967. Graphic Communications Group.
  2. ^ "How did a fateful CIA coup—executed 55 years ago this February 24—doom much of sub-Saharan Africa? | MR Online". mronline.org. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  3. ^ Ofori, Henry (18 March 1969). Daily Graphic: Issue 5,742 March 18 1969. Graphic Communications Group.
  4. ^ a b "Name Kumasi Cultural Centre After Dr Kyerematen". GhanaWeb. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  5. ^ Wetmore, Kevin J. Jr. (31 October 2001). The Athenian Sun in an African Sky: Modern African Adaptations of Classical Greek Tragedy. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1093-4.
  6. ^ a b Kyerematen, Alex A. Y. (1964). Panoply of Ghana. London: Longmans.
  7. ^ "Of Historical Fallacies and Errors: A Rejoinder to Daily Graphic Report Kumasi Zoo Reopens". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  8. ^ Wetmore, Kevin J. Jr. (31 October 2001). The Athenian Sun in an African Sky: Modern African Adaptations of Classical Greek Tragedy. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1093-4.
  9. ^ "Ghana: How Alan bent Mum's wish".
  10. ^ "Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng". Pulse Ghana. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  11. ^ "What you don't know about Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen". News Ghana. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. ^ Mensah, Emmanuel Jewel Peprah (19 March 2021). "Of Historical Fallacies and Errors: A Rejoinder to Daily Graphic Report "Kumasi Zoo Reopens"". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 16 October 2021.