Robert Jones Ghartey

King Ghartey IV (born Kwamena Akyempong; c. 1820 – July 30, 1897) was the king of Winneba, enstooled in 1872. He became king after the death of King Henry Acqual, alias Kwesi Eguasi. He was the first President of the Fante confederation. He was a politician, author, entrepreneur, statesman, innovator and philanthropist. He was a leading figure in the business transactions which flowed from the Gold Coast to Britain to France. He was succeeded by King Kodwo Abeka (George Acquah Robertson).

Biography He was born in 1820 at Winneba and named Kwamena Akyempong. His parents are King Gyateh Kumah III and Obaapanyin Ekua Kaadze, who was a princess of Senya Beraku. During his career, Mynheer Stooves gave him the name Robert Johnson Ghartey due to his intelligence and his father's name " Gyatɛ (Lion)" was anglicized to "Ghartey". He did not have any formal education. He was able to read and write by reading books given to him by Mynheer Stooves. Through this, he was able to speak English, Dutch and Portuguese. He was very religious. He died on July 30, 1897.

Achievements

He dug a bore-hole at Anomabu which became the only source of water for the people at a cost of £150. In 1864, he measured the distance from the coast to Ashanti using his pocket watch at three miles an hour. In 1864, he published a pamphlet entitled "A guide to coomassie".