THE PAN-AFRICAN ACTIVISM OF HANNAH CUDJOE AND HER WEALTHY BROTHER
Ahantas have played very instrumental role in the fight for our independence of Ghana. The people of Ahanta had 2 of their indigenes actively working in the UGCC fraternity in the 1940s and 1950s.
There were in the persons of Hannah Cudjoe aka Esi Badu and her wealthy brother E.K Dadson from Busua. Born in December 1918 and died on 9 March 1986 respectively, Hannah Cudjoe was the first high-profile female nationalist in the movement. She was inspired to enter into politics when Dr Kwame Nkrumah stayed in their house in June 1947 with her then UGCC activist brother E.K Dadson. Actually, it was even in this same house of E. K Dadson, the CPP was formed. Her political activities were massively felt in Tarkwa where she had gained popularity through her dressmaking business. There, she got married to one mining manager by name J.C Cudjoe.
Being inordinately motivated by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, she singlehandedly began raising funds for the smooth running of the UGCC. In March 1948, when the big six of the UGCC were arrested, she repeatedly raised funds and championed a cause for their release. Additionally, she was still involved in the committee on youth organization within the UGCC and followed them till they split to form the CPP. She was conspicuously involved in the mass civil disobedience campaign. This was eventually termed as Positive Action and it brought an imperceptible end to the colonial rule. This vociferous Ahanta woman served as the Propaganda Secretary of the CPP which made her crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country with Dr Kwame Nkrumah. The Royal press, a printing company which printed the CPP’s literatures was owned by her brother E.K Dadson.
After independence, she founded the All-African women’s league in 1975. As a philanthropist, she established nurseries in many parts of the country. She also championed an anti-nudity campaign against women in the northern part of Ghana by distributing clothing donated from other countries.
CENTRE FOR NATIONAL CULTURE
AHANTA WEST MUNICIPAL