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Renowned Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo dies at 81
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Renowned Ghanaian poet and author Ama Ata Aidoo has died after a short illness.
This was confirmed by her family in a statement issued today.
The prolific writer died on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. She was 81.
“The Family of PROF. AMA ATA AIDOO with deep sorrow but in the hope of the resurrection, informs the general public that our beloved relative and writer passed away in the early hours of this morning Wednesday 31st May 2023, after a short illness.
“Funeral arrangements would be announced in due course. The Family requests privacy at this difficult moment,” Family head Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo announced in a short statement.
Prof. Ata Aidoo has published award-winning novels, plays, short stories, children’s books, and poetry, and influenced generations of African women writers.
As a further testament to her influence, the author was the subject of the excellent 2014 documentary film, The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo, directed by Yaba Badoe.
Her accomplishments have been heralded in Essays in Honour of Ama Ata Aidoo at 70: A Reader in African Cultural Studies, edited by Anne V. Adams.
Profile of Ama Ata Aidoo
Christina Ama Ata Aidoo was born on 23 March 1942 in Abeadzi Kyiakor, near Saltpond, in the Central Region of Ghana.
Some sources (including Megan Behrent, Brown University, and Africa Who’s Who) have stated that she was born on 31 March 1940. She had a twin brother, Kwame Ata.
She was raised in a Fante royal household, the daughter of Nana Yaw Fama, chief of Abeadzi Kyiakor, and Maame Abasema. She grew up at a time of resurgent British neocolonialism that was taking place in her homeland.
Her grandfather was murdered by neocolonialists, which brought her father’s attention to the importance of educating the children and families of the village on the history and events of the era.
This led him to open up the first school in their village and influenced Aidoo to attend Wesley Girls’ High School, where she first decided she wanted to be a writer.
Aidoo attended Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in Cape Coast, from 1961 to 1964. After high school, she enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon, where she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English and also wrote her first play, The Dilemma of a Ghost, in 1964.
The play was published by Longman the following year, making Aidoo the first published African woman dramatist.
Source: citinewsroom.com
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly posing as a soldier and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public at Ashaiman.
The suspect, identified as Bright Atsu Kudiabor, was arrested by the Ashaiman Police on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.
According to the Police, he was arrested at an area known as “I Shall Return”, where he was allegedly parading himself as a soldier and demanding money from people.
The Police said Kudiabor, who is an ex-convict, was initially arrested by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in Ashaiman with assistance from other members of the public.
A search conducted on him after he was handed over to the Police reportedly led to the recovery of a set of military camouflage uniform.
The suspect is currently in Police custody and assisting with investigations.
The Tema Regional Police Command said he would be processed for court after investigations are completed.
The Police urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone who falsely presents themselves as a soldier or a member of another security agency to deceive or extort money from the public.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, says the Volta Region holds enormous agricultural potential and efforts must be geared towards connecting farmers to the needed resources to unlock that potential.
He said focus must be on linking farmers to resources, technology, financing and markets to increase production, create jobs and build sustainable livelihoods.
Hon. Gunu made the remarks at the national launch of the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) held at Anloga in the Volta Region on Tuesday, September 15.
The initiative, under the theme “Produce at Home. Feed the Nation. Export the Surplus,” seeks to boost local tomato production, processing and marketing while reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported tomatoes.
The launch was attended by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, his Deputy, John Setor Dumelo, Feed Ghana Coordinator, Bright Demordzi, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, MMDCEs, farmers and other stakeholders.
Mr.Gunu expressed appreciation to the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the support announced for the region, including two excavators, 200 cartons of organic fertiliser, and GH¢200,000 for Ms. Kuatudzo Esther Dela, a tomato farmer and processor from Ziope.
He described the initiative as an important step towards making agriculture a stronger driver of food security, job creation and economic growth in the Volta Region.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
