Archie Casely-Hayford

Archibald "Archie" Casely-Hayford (1898 – 20 August 1977) was a British-trained Ghanaian barrister and politician, who was involved in nationalist politics in the former Gold Coast (present-day Ghana). Having joined the Convention People's Party (CPP), in 1951 he was elected Municipal Member for Kumasi and was appointed by Kwame Nkrumah Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the government of the First Republic. When Nkrumah declared Ghana's Independence on 6 March 1957, he was photographed on the podium flanked by Casely-Hayford, together with Kojo Botsio, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck and Krobo Edusei. The Gold Coast cabinet, 6 March 1957. Front row, left to right: Archie Casely-Hayford, Kojo Botsio; Kwame Nkrumah; Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Edward Okyere Asafu-Adjaye (Ghana High Commissioner in London). Back row, left to right: Joseph Henry Allassani, Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck, Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, John Ernest Jantuah, Imoru Egala, Minister of Industries.

Biography Early years and education Archie Casely-Hayford was born in Axim, Gold Coast, to Beatrice Madelene (née Pinnock) and respected pan-Africanist Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford. Archie was educated at Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, and then in Britain at Dulwich College, London. He subsequently studied at Clare College, University of Cambridge, receiving an MA degree in law and economics.

Before leaving London, he married Esther (Essie) Smith in May 1921.

After returning home to the Gold Coast, he practised as a lawyer from 1921 until 1936. He became a member of Sekondi Town Council in 1926, and was made a district magistrate in 1936, rising to be senior district magistrate by 1948, before resuming private legal practice. In Nkrumah's first government, Casely-Hayford was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1951,

Honours Casely-Hayford was honoured by Ghana with the Grand Medal and was awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal from Britain. he held the post of Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. His youngest son Michael Casely-Hayford is a media consultant. His daughter Desiree was living in Australia as of 2013.