Senyo Gatror Antor (1913 - 1986) was a Ghanaian politician, diplomat and teacher.[1][2]
Senyo Gatror Antor | |
|---|---|
Senyo Gatrɔ Antɔ | |
| Member of the Ghana Parliament for Kpandu North | |
| In office 1954–1961 | |
| Succeeded by | Regina Asamany |
| Ambassador to Togo | |
| In office April 1970 – January 1972 | |
| President | Edward Akufo-Addo |
| Prime Minister | K. A. Busia |
| Preceded by | Peter Kosi Folly |
| Succeeded by | William Lix Tsitsiwu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Logba Alakpeti, Togoland |
| Died | 1986 Lomé |
| Resting place | Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Political party | Togoland Congress |
| Other political affiliations | United Party |
Early life and education
editAntor was born in 1931 at Logba in the Togoland. His primary education was at the Presbyterian School at Amedzofe. He went on to the Presbyterian Teacher Training College at Akropong in the Gold Coast where he qualified as a teacher.[3] He later attended the Presbyterian Theology College at Ho.
Work and activism in Togoland
editAntor worked as a teacher between 1937 and 1949. In 1949, he founded the Togoland United Nations Newsletter. He was its first editor. In 1950, he was the leader of the Togoland delegation to the United Nations Trusteeship Council (UNTC). He also led the Togoland delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 1951, 1952, 1954 and 1956 where he petitioned for the unification of both Togolands.[4]
Politics
editAntor founded the Togoland Congress in 1951 in British Togoland to advocate for its unification with French Togoland.[5] He was opposed to the unification of Togoland with the Gold Coast.[6] Antor actively lobbied the United Nations for the reunification of British and French Togoland. This was opposed by Pedro Olympio of the Parti togolais du progrès who opposed unification unless it was under the auspices of the French.[7]
Following the passing of the Avoidance of Discrimination Act by the Nkrumah government in 1957, the Togoland Congress merged with other opposition parties to form the United Party.[8][9][1]
Detention and exile
editAntor was arrested with F. K. Ametobra, Kojo Dumega, and Alex Odame at Alavanyo by the police in 1957 and charged with treason. He appealed to the International Court of Justice at The Hague and was released to allow him to continue as the member of parliament for Kpandu North. Between 1961 and 1966, he was detained at Nsawam Prisons until the 24 February 1966 coup which established the National Liberation Council military government.[10]
Diplomatic service
editIn April 1970, Antor was appointed by the Busia government as the ambassador of Ghana to Togo. He replaced Peter Kosi Folly. His term as ambassador ended when the Progress Party government of Kofi Abrefa Busia was overthrown in a coup d'étât in January 1972 by the National Redemption Council military government led by Colonel Acheampong.[11][10]
Family
editMr Antor's wife died around 1976, four years into his exile in Togo after the overthrow of the Busia government. His son, Robert Kwame Antor reported that the Supreme Military Council government did not allow the family to bury her remains in Ghana.[10]
Death
editAntor chose to remain in exile in Togo rather than return to Ghana after the 1972 coup.[10] He died in Lome, Togo in 1986.[12] He was buried at Logba in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b Nelson Ayivor (18 May 2023). "Dr Afriyie Akoto pays tribute to S.G. Antor". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Dr Afriyie Akoto eulogises late S. G. Antor". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Kate Skinner (2 November 2017). "1". The Fruits of Freedom in British Togoland - Literacy, Politics and Nationalism 1914 - 2014 (Reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1107427051.
- ^ "Petition from Mr. S.G. Antor concerning Togoland under British Administration". un.org. United Nations. 18 June 1951. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Verandah Boys versus Reactionary Lawyers: Nationalist Activism in Ghana, 1946–1956" (PDF).
- ^ Edward Bamfo-Darko (1 October 2020). "Togoland Secessionists Are Old Political Party With Old Immaterial Agendum". modernghana.com. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Thullen, George (1964). Problems of the Trusteeship System: A Study of Political Behavior in the United Nations. Geneva: Librairie Droz. ISBN 978-2-600-04012-9. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Michael Sumaila Nlasia (20 July 2019). "The problems of tribalism with African democracy". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Adam Higazi (June 2004). "Policy Levers in Ghana" (PDF). Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity, CRISE, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford. p. 5. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "S.G. Antor's son testifies at NRC". modernghana.com. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Brown, David (December 1980). "Borderline Politics in Ghana: The National Liberation Movement of Western Togoland". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 18 (4). Cambridge University Press: 575–609. doi:10.1017/S0022278X00014750. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 160799. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
S. G. Antor and Dumoga, were appointed as Ambassadors to, respec- tively, Togo and Dahomey
- ^ "West Africa". West Africa. West Africa Publishing Company: 1445. July 1986. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
The death has been reported in Lome, Togo, of Mr Senyo Gatror Antor, Ghana's Ambassador to Togo during the Second Republic. Mr Antor, 80, a former teacher and politician, was a lifelong advocate of Togoland unity. He led a group of people in the then British Mandated Togoland which sought the unification of the Volta Region with Togo. Their attempts led the United Nations to organise a plebiscite in the area in 1956. Mr Antor was serving as Ambassador in Togo when the regime of Prime Minister K. A. Busia was toppled