HON. JOSEPH HENRY MENSAH + (J. H. MENSAH) 31. 10. 1928 – 12. 07. 2018.

Today, mark the 5th anniversary of the demise of Mr. J. H Mensah + who passed away into eternity after serving relentlessly his country of birth, Ghana, politically in diverse Ministries.

DEDICATION:

The 5th anniversary is dedicated to commemorate/ honour Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah +, popularly known and called Mr. J. H. +, the brilliant economist, the celebrated politician, the unwavering Ghanaian patriot, the architect behind the famous seven-year development plan of the first President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Chairman of the powerful Ghana Democratic Movement, GDM, in Europe and equally West African sub region, which was headquartered in London for his enormous political contributions. He served under the Colonial Administration from 1953 up to 2005 / 2006 as a Senior Minister of Government Business under HE John Agyekum Kufour’s administration government of the NPP in Ghana.

Today, on the 5th anniversary of the death of Mr. J. H. Mensah +, l write vehemently once again in deep pain and sorrow in my capacity as a Founding Member and one of the few remaining active political serving members of the powerful Ghana Democratic Movement-GDM who is still active and raised the banner in the formation of the NPP in Hamburg, Germany, founded by him. He was internationally recognized world-wide as Chairman & Founder of the GDM with London as its head office and equally the merchant city of Hamburg as head office in Germany.

Historically, it’s on records that the GDM challenged, protested strongly, and condemned against the PNDC bogus military regime through demonstrations, published articles which revealed the junta about the atrocious crimes against humanity, organized seminars, and distributed flyers to expose crimes committed against innocent Ghanaian citizens, stripped women naked in public etc. for unlawfully removing a democratic government of Dr. Hilla Liman on 31st December 1981 in Ghana.

WE, the few leading Executives including myself were exiled for twenty (20) years without visiting Ghana since declared wanted to face treason charges by the PNDC for our direct and open protest against the regime. We are proud today as we remember and mourn the loss of a unique statesman, a charismatic man, a father, an uncle, a traditionalist, and a friend for his many great political achievements. Mr. J. H. Mensah + is one of the greatest celebrated politicians and an international economist Ghana has produced in modern political history of our Nation. He wholeheartedly sacrificed to his life to serve his country of birth, Ghana, he cared so much until his last breath.

I served under the GDM in the position as Assistant General Secretary & National Financial Secretary simultaneously from 1982 – 1992 in Hamburg chapter and in Germany until ban on party politics was lifted in Ghana. Obviously, l had so many political interacts with Mr. J. H. Mensah +, personally during the political struggle against the PNDC killer regime outside Ghana in the UK, Hamburg, Dortmund, Kiel, Berlin, Osnabrück, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt am Main etc. in Germany on several times. I would like to say emphatically with pride and authority that apart from my earlier description about him, he was also a good counsellor, a highly respectable Ghanaian traditionalist, and an experience politician.

Mr. J. H. Mensah + was optimistic that one day, Democracy will be restored in Ghana to benefit future and unborn generations. Significantly, Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah +, was my political mentor in Hamburg, Germany and in the United Kingdom during the time of the political struggle against the PNDC regime in the 1980’s.

INAUGURATION OF THE GHANA DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (GDM) IN HAMBURG – GERMANY

The official Inauguration of the GDM took place on 21. 04. 1984 at Mensah, Dammtor, at the University of Hamburg.

EXTRACTS FROM HIS ADDRESS / SPEECH

Mr. J. H. Mensah +, main speaker of the inauguration lamented about the deep cries of Ghanaians on crimes against humanity and bad economic infrastructure, detentions without trial, low level of Ghana’s educational system etc. conditions 27 years after independence with the hall filled. He reiterated that, there has NOT been any successful military rule over the world. He cited an example that Sir Winston Churchill, who rallied the British to victory during the 2nd world war as a Prime Minister was forced to resign immediately after the end of the war because they didn’t want to experience any military dictatorship in Great Britain and received standing ovation from the invited guests and participants, journalist, lawyers, as well as human-right groups etc. who came to listen to his powerful and eloquent speech. He concluded finally NOT for Ghanaians to rely on United States of America, Great Britain, or Germany to fight for our freedom but to get involved in the struggle irrespective of one’s political affiliation, religion and tribe through the mass media and with GOD ON OUR SIDE, the fight to restore DEMOCRACY IN GHANA will be successful one day in his life time and will equally spread over the continent of Africa to end military regime’s which was becoming rampant on the continent of Africa.

A GOOD GUESS IS AS GOOD THINKING

A DREAM REALLY COMES TRUE

REGISTRATION OF NPP MEMBERS IN HAMBURG

It was through Mr. J. H. Mensah +, that Hamburg gave birth to both the GDM & the NPP in Hamburg, Germany of fame stretching to the Scandinavian countries and other European cities apart from the United Kingdom since there were no branches in these countries.

THE FIRST GIANT BIG TWO (2) FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NPP IN GERMANY

I, Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, Hamburg & Mr. George Kofi Afrifa, Kiel, a political scientist, who later became the General Secretary who is painfully incapacitated due to the stroke which strikes him barely seventeen (17) years ago ending his political career shockingly organized the first historical political meeting of the NPP in Hamburg at Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr’s house, University of Hamburg in June, 1992 with some few Ghanaians when ban on party politics was lifted in Ghana officially.

However, Mr. George Kofi Afrifa’s name is inscribed in the sand mark of the documentations of both the GDM/NPP history books in Germany and Ghana for generations. Ghanaians were still scared to attend openly NPP meetings in Hamburg and activities after registration because of the threat of their lives and businesses in Ghana since the PNDC was still a threat and fearful to the public.

REGISTRATION OF NPP MEMBERS IN HAMBURG CITY AND IT’S ENVIRONS

Soon after these memorable meetings and inauguration, Mr. J. H. Mensah +, sent twenty (20) NPP membership cards which was scarce to get in Europe to me to register Ghanaians in Hamburg. Within weeks, ALL the cards were sold out at fifty (50) Deutsche Mark (DM50) per one and more copies were ordered and have records of all those registered in my archives in Hamburg for reference purposes.

The vacuum created by the death of the giant politician, Mr. J. H. Mensah, + will take a very long time or years to be filled in modern day Ghanaian politics generally.

Finally, with deep sadness and painful reflections of memories, l stand up firmly like an ancient and active trained professional Roman active soldier and salute Mr. J. H. Mensah, + my political mentor, adviser, lecturer, and motivator as l celebrate his 5th anniversary after serving courageously, honestly, and sincerely Ghana, the country he loved and cared so much and a chapter in history has come to an end at his final journey to eternity.

I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family world-wide once again, more especially in Ghana and the great OSONO party members for the loss of such a DOYEN politician.

Honestly, Mr. J. H. Mensah + will be remembered by generations of Ghanaians who believed in Democratic principles and the rule of law, NPP members especially in the merchant city of Hamburg and generally in Germany for his unflinching support politically for those few fellow citizens who had direct political contact and relationship with him during the 1980’s dangerous long walk to freedom.

SEE THE BELOW CLASSICAL PICTURES AND THE EVENTS DEPICTING MOST OF

MR. J. H. MENSAH’S ACTIVITIES IN THE GDM IN THE CITY OF HAMBURG – GERMANY.

INAUGURATION OF THE GDM:

The official inauguration of the GDM took place on 21. 04. 1984 at Dammtor, Mensa at the great hall at the University of Hamburg. See the attached classical Talking Drums publication front page with the General Secretary, Mr. George Kofi Afrifa reading the resolution of the demonstration at the hall with a helping hand from Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, the Assistant General Secretary/Financial Secretary.

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GDM members mostly Ghanaians, Germans and some African countries sympathizers demonstrating through the streets of Hamburg from Monkerbergstreet to the inauguration hall at Mensa, Dammtor, University of Hamburg.

2. PICTURE NR. 4:

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Mr. J. H. Mensah, + main speaker, addressing the audience at the great hall of the University where he delivered his powerful and penetrating speech with Mr. S. E. Osei (Agya Osei) of Hamburg, GDM Director Of Operations assisting him with the microphone.

3. PICTURE NR. 5

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Line up of GDM Executives at the Inaugural Hall – R – L

Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, Messrs: George Kofi Afrifa, Dr. Edgar Twumasi, R. O. Frimpong-Manso, London delegate, Mr. J. H. Mensah +, (main speaker) of the inauguration, Edward Osei Ampadu, Dickson Kankam-Boadu and Agyemang Duah, London delegate.

4. PICTURE NR. 6

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Mr. J. H. Mensah +, discussing a point with Mr. Edward Osei Ampadu, National Chairman of the GDM with Mr. Dickson Kankam-Boadu sitting beside Mr. E. O. Ampadu.

5. PICTURE NR. 7

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Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, the Assistant General Secretary & Financial Secretary of the GDM Launching an Appeal for Funds as part of the programme from the invited guest and participants at the inauguration hall at the University of Hamburg.

6. AT THE GLOBUS HOTEL NR. 8

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A classical picture of some Senior Executives waiting for Mr. J. H. Mensah +, at the Globus hotel before attending the Thanksgiving Service on the 22. 04. 1984 in Hamburg namely from L – R: Messrs: Justice Amoateng, Nuemunster, Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, Hamburg, George Kofi Afrifa, Kiel and Edward Osei Ampadu, Hamburg.

7. PICTURE NR. 9

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Mr. J. H. Mensah +, in a memorable picture with Oheneba Oduro-Opuni on 22. 04. 1984 after the Thanksgiving Service of the successful inauguration of the GDM at Bei der Hopfenkarre, Tonndorf, Hamburg where a private reception was reserved for the buoyant politician and the delegation from London.

NOTE

GDM-GERMANY EXECUTIVES GROUP PICTURE AT THE FRONT VIEW OF GLOBUS HOTEL HAMBURG

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The attached classical picture depicts some of the Executive members of the GDM in a memorable group picture at the front-view of the GLOBUS HOTEL, Horner Rennbahn, where the delegates from London were accommodated on 22. 04. 1984.

8. PRESS CONFERENCE NR. 10

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A press conference organised by the GDM in Dortmund on the 06. 03. 1987 which coincided with Ghana’s 30th Independence Anniversary with Mr. J. H. Mensah+, assiduously addressing the participants. With Oheneba Oduro-Opuni sitting beside him with some active members surrounded together with Mr. Gabriel Oppong, an organiser from Nurnberg in a group picture with Mr. J. H. Mensah +, and Mr. R. O. Frimpong-Manso, a delegate from London. See the attached publication in the RUHR NACHRICHTEN SAMSTAG 07. 03. 1987 in Dortmund, Germany.

9. PICTURE NR. 11

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A FOUNDING MEMBERS CERTIFICATE OF THE GDM:

A Founding Members Certificate of the GDM issued to Oheneba Oduro-Opuni based on his unflinching political contributions and services signed by Mr. J. H. Mensah +, the giant politician himself on 01. 06. 1985 in the merchant city of Hamburg in one of the numerous seminars and activities the movement organised with him personally.

NOTE:

1. A POLITICAL BACKGROUND IDENTITY WITH THE PFP IN GHANA

A registered and dues paying membership card of the POPULAR FRONT PARTY- ( PFP ) of

Oheneba Oduro-Opuni in Ghana in the 1970’s confirming his political career background.

2. TALKING DRUMS PUBLICATION

An article written by Oheneba Oduro-Opuni and published in the Talking Drums-entitled A DEMOCRATIC STATE NOW condemning the junta about the secret death squad in Ghana in 1984. I was declared wanted to face treason charges by the PNDC regime in a military tribunal in Accra in a letter from Hamburg written by Mr. Frank Kwaw Cudjoe and published in the Daily Graphic magazine in Ghana.

10. PICTURE NR. 12

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The attached classical picture depicting from L-R: Dr. Wolfgang Peters, a young German legal consultant for the GDM, who helped the movement to get registered at the Hamburg Administrative Court, Oheneba Oduro-Opuni, the Assistant General Secretary/Financial Secretary of the GDM and Mr. Dickson Kankam Boadu, the National Coordinator, in one of the numerous symposiums in September 1984 at the University of Hamburg.

11. PICTURE NR. 13

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A classical picture of Mr. J. H. Mensah+ standing addressing the participants namely, GDM Executives in Germany with German business gurus, lawyers, human rights groups, and the public. He enlightened the audience about the current political situation in Ghana at that time and what future NPP government will do to bring investment in Ghana. He equally answered questions participants raised perfectly.

12. PICTURE NR. 14

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A SYMPOSIUM AT THE AUDIMAX UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG- 29. 09. 1984

A symposium organised by the GDM at the Audimax, University of Hamburg which coincided with

Ghana’s 27th Independence Anniversary.

From L – R: Messrs: R. O. Frimpong Manson, (speaker), London, Col. (rtd) Annor Odjija, ex-Director of Ghana’s Military Intelligence (main speaker), and Prof. Dr. Rainer Tetzlaff (Chairman), lecturer in political Science at the University of Hamburg.

NOTE ONE (1): The Ghanaian Sphinx, reflections on the Contemporary History of Ghana, 1972 – 1987, by the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahene, formerly Professor and Head of the Department of History, University of Ghana. Being the J. B. DANQUAH MEMORIAL LECTURES, 1988, Under the Auspices of The Ghana Academy of Arts & Sciences. The above powerful and historical lectures ever held in Ghana during the culture of silence period under the PNDC was Edited and Published by THE GHANA DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (GDM) branches in- ACCRA, LONDON, HAMBURG, NEW YORK, AND PARIS under the able chairmanship of the late Mr. J. H. Mensah

NOTE TWO (2) – The history about the Formation of NPP in Germany

I disseminate this vital information meant for ALL Hamburg Chapter and Germany NPP Branch good members as well as the public around the globe as follows:

Assiduously, the comprehensive and explicit ongoing detail documentation about the history and how the merchant city of Hamburg gave birth to NPP Germany in extensive form will be published when ready for its numerous Ghanaian NPP members and the public. Interestingly, the memoir is a book of thrilling, electrifying, spectacular, and amazing with more pages of credible and perfect supporting evidence of documents; to serve the interest of both our good members, and equally the public who will get access to read the historical book. Thank you.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE

AMEN

MR. J. H. MENSAH DAMIRIFA

DUE ENE AMANIHUNU

Regards,

Signed:

Oheneba Oduro-Opuni

Founding Member Of G.D.M

Ghana Democratic Movement

Assistant Gen. Secretary/ Financial Sect.

Hamburg / Germany – 1982 – 1992

Founding Member NPP

Hamburg – Germany

Interim Gen. Secretary 1992

Former Hamburg Chapter

&

National Financial Secretary

1992 – 2014

Former Vice-Chairman Hamburg Chapter

2014 – 2018

Chairman Of Council of Elders

&

Chairman of National Council of

Elders – Germany – 2022 —

Advisory Board & Disciplinary

Committee Member – 2023