1836-1898

Born March 1836 in Senya Beraku in the Central Region of Ghana to parents Kwamina Amissah a prison officer in Axim and Mena Adjoa Boafo. Kweku Andoh started work at sixteen with Swanzy and was the personal secretary to the Chief of Elmina.  His next position was as Chief of Elmina in 1873, and he was later made Regent from 1884-1898.  Chief Andoh was awarded in 1874 the Queen’s African General Services Medal.   In his position as the Regent of Elmina he was paid a pension by the British government.   In his old age, Chief Andoh spied a young trader, Madam Akosua Twibah and decided to marry her.  When the moon was full the villagers danced and made fun of the 60 plus old king who had married a young bride.  But the old man was able to make his young bride pregnant but died on the 14th of December 1898 few weeks after his last child, Francis Isaac Andoh Sr was born.   He was named ‘Antobam’ which translated means ‘one who did not meet pampering.’

Chief Andoh was known as a personal advisor to Sir Baden Powell who founded the Boys Scouts Movement, the famous boy’s scout’s knots are said to have originated from the tying of knots in the forests during travel in those days to avoid getting lost.  He also set up the first Police Force in the Gold Coast.

Chief Andoh was so influential that there was a Fante expression, Andoh nye woa? This meant, Are you Andoh? Or Who do you think you are?

His descendants include the first African to head the UAC, Mr Francis Isaac Andoh, the first Ghanaian bishop in the Archdiocese of Accra, Archbishop Dominic K. Andoh, Mr R.P. Baffuor, first Ghanaian to graduate as an engineer, Fritz Baffour, David Eyiku Awotwi, Kweku Andoh Awotwi, Emelia Nortey, Mary Andoh, Francis Isaac Andoh, Robert Patrick Andoh, Paul Kweku Louis Andoh, Fritz Andoh, Franka-Maria Andoh, Mary Andoh Jobe, Francis Isaac Andoh III amongst others.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Kweku_Andoh