List of Ghanaians

This list of notable Ghanaians includes people who were born in Ghana and people who are of Ghanaian ancestry, who are significantly notable for their life and/or work.

University academics

Mohammed-Sani Abdulai - president of Lakeside University College
William Emmanuel Abraham - Philosopher - Author and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
Kwasi Kwarfo Adarkwa - Academic and the past Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey - Intellectual, missionary and teacher
Francis Allotey - Mathematical physicist
Joseph Amenowode - Academic and politician
Aba Andam - Nuclear physicist and lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwesi Akwansah Andam - Author - civil engineer and former Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Anthony Appiah - Philosopher and novelist
George Ayittey - Economist and author
Robert Patrick Baffour - Academic - mechanical engineer and First Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Nathaniel Boso - Academic and international marketing strategist
George C. Clerk - Botanist
Nicholas T. Clerk - Academic public administrator and Presbyterian Minister
Philip Gbeho - Teacher and composer of the Ghana National Anthem
Akua Kuenyehia - Academic and Lawyer who served as Judge of the International Criminal Court and former Dean of the Faculty of Law University of Ghana
Fred McBagonluri - Academic - author and inventor
Daniel Asua Wubah - Academic and President of Millersville University

Arts

Sculpture and painting

Bright Tetteh Ackwerh - Sculptor
Eric Adjetey Anang - Sculptor
Ben Agbee - Artist
Kwame Akoto-Bamfo - Sculptor
El Anatsui - Sculptor
Serge Attukwei Clottey - Artist
Nana Oforiatta Ayim - Art historian, curator, filmmaker, writer
James Cudjoe - Painter
Godfried Donkor - Painter and mixed-media artist
Kimathi Donkor - Painter
Ablade Glover - Painter
Amon Kotei - Artist and designer of the coat of arms of Ghana
Wiz Kudowor - Artist
Theodosia Okoh - Artist and designer of the Flag of Ghana
Owusu-Ankomah - Painter
Rikki Wemega-Kwawu - Artist
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye - Painter

Architecture

David Adjaye - Architect
Theodore S. Clerk - Urban planner and first Ghanaian professionally certified architect
Elsie Owusu - Founding chair of the Society of Black Architects
Harry Sawyerr - Architect

Dance

Obo Addy - Drummer and dancer

Fashion

Joyce Ababio - Fashion designer and educator
Virgil Abloh - Fashion designer
Adwoa Aboah - Supermodel
Nana Akua Addo - Model and film producer/actress
Kofi Ansah - Fashion designer
Chloe Asaam - Fashion designer and sustainable fashion advocate
Aisha Ayensu - Fashion designer and founder of Christie Brown
Ozwald Boateng - Fashion designer
Joe Casely-Hayford - Fashion designer
Edward Enninful - Former Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue magazine
Hilda Akua Frimpong - Model
Akpene Diata Hoggar - Miss Universe Ghana, and Activist
Claudia Lumor - Fashion magazine publisher and fashion show producer
Charlotte Mensah - Hairstylist founder of hair lounge
Ruth Quarshie - Model and winner of Miss Universe Ghana 2017
Sam Sarpong - Supermodel
Kate Tachie-Menson - Model

Photography

Felicia Abban - Ghana's first female professional photographer
Philip Kwame Apagya - Photographer
James Barnor - Hon. FRPS Photographer and Holder of The Order Of The Volta
Prince Gyasi - Visual artist and founder of non-profit Boxedkids

Business

Adam Afriyie - Former member of parliament for Windsor and member of the British Conservative Party
George Afriyie - Businessman and owner/President of Ghanaian club Planners Athletic Club
Roland Agambire - Entrepreneur and former chief executive officer of Agams Holdings and the chairman and chief executive officer of the information and communications technology company Rlg Communications
Prince Kofi Amoabeng - Former Military Officer and businessman
Abena Amoah - Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange.
K. Y. Amoako - International civil servant for the United Nations and businessman
Anne Amuzu - Computer scientist and co-founder of technology company Nandimobile Limited
Joyce Aryee - Businesswoman and politician
Yvette Adounvo Atekpe - Businesswoman and Regional Managing Director of Internet Solutions
Marufatu Abiola Bawuah - Managing director/chief executive officer of United Bank for Africa
Lord Paul Boateng - British Labour Party politician and the UK's first black cabinet minister
Bernice Dapaah - Social entrepreneur and founder/chief executive officer of the Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative
Dzigbordi Dosoo - Founder and CEO of DCG Consulting Group and Allure Africa
Sam E Jonah - Businessman
Patricia Obo-Nai - Engineer and the first Ghanaian to become chief executive officer of Vodafone Ghana
Kate Quartey-Papafio - Businesswoman
Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo - Businesswoman
Akua Sarpong-Ayisa - Entrepreneur and founder of the floral company "Unique Floral"
Winnifred Selby - social entrepreneur/president of the EPF Educational Empowerment Initiative and co-founder of the Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative
J. K. Siaw - Industrialist/philanthropist and establisher of Tata Brewery Ltd
Elizabeth Wyns-Dogbe - Chartered insurer and an associate member of The Chartered Insurance Institute UK
Adowarim Lugu Zuri - Founder and manager of Wazuri Ghana Limited

Other educators

Stephen Adei - Educationist, writer, economist and motivational speaker
Gottlieb A. Adom - Teacher, journalist and Church Minister
James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey - Intellectual, Missionary, and teacher
Richard Appiah Akoto - Educationalist
Francis Allotey - Mathematical physicist
Kofi Annan - Former secretary-general of the United Nations, Nobel peace prize winner and chancellor of the University of Ghana
Ernest Aryeetey - Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, Former Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance and vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana
Kofi Awoonor - Professor and diplomat
Patrick Awuah - Founder and president of Ashesi University
Edward S. Ayensu - Economist, scientist and former chairman of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
George Ayittey - Economist, author, professor and President of the Free Africa Foundation
Emmanuel Yaw Benneh - Law Professor
Kwesi Botchwey - Professor and lawyer
Beattie Casely-Hayford - Engineer
Gus Casely-Hayford - Curator and cultural historian
Alexander Worthy Clerk - Missionary and teacher
Carl Henry Clerk - Teacher and Church Minister
Jane E. Clerk - Teacher and education administrator
Nicholas Timothy Clerk - Missionary and Clergyman
Priscilla Kolibea Mante - Neuropharmacologist, researcher and lecturer from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
John Atta Mills - Former president of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and university professor of law
Mavis Owureku-Asare - Food scientist and CEO of Impact Food Hub
Marian Asantewah Nkansah - Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences recipient and environmental chemist
Percy Sackey - Teacher

Judiciary

Mabel Agyemang - Chief Justice of the Supreme court of The Gambia
Daniel Francis Annan - Judge
Joyce Bamford-Addo - Judge and barrister
Amanda Akuokor Clinton - C.E.O of Bitcoin Exchange Africa and the founding partner of the law office of Clinton Consultancy
V. C. R. A. C. Crabbe - Former Judge of the Ghana Supreme Court
Samuel Azu Crabbe - Barrister and former 5th Chief of Justice of the republic of Ghana
Jones Dotse - Former supreme court judge of Ghana and The Gambia
Cynthia Lamptey - Lawyer and public servant, former Director of Public Prosecutions
Thomas Mensah (lawyer) - Judge and President of Permanent Court of Arbitration
Sandra Opoku - Lawyer and first female Director of Tema Port
Emmanuel Charles Quist - Barrister and judge, first African Speaker of the Gold Coast legislative assembly
Georgina Theodora Wood - First female Chief Justice of Ghana

Diplomats

Elizabeth Adjei
Kofi Annan - Former secretary-general of the United Nations, Nobel peace prize winner and chancellor of the University of Ghana
K. B. Asante
Elsie Addo Awadzi
Paul Boateng
Mohamed Ibn Chambas
Pauline M. Clerk
Anita Kiki Gbeho
Akua Kuenyehia
Amon Nikoi
Charlotte Osei
Nathan Quao
Genevieve Delali Tsegah

Film actors and directors

Ama K. Abebrese
Kofi Adjorlolo
Freema Agyeman, actress
John Akomfrah, film director and screenwriter
Mac Jordan Amartey
Jackie Appiah, actress
Amma Asante, Ghanaian-British film writer and director
Chris Attoh, actor
Yaba Badoe, filmmaker and writer
Clara Amoateng Benson
Thelma Buabeng
Nadia Buhari, actress
Akosua Busia, actress
Paul Danquah, Ghanaian-British actor
Michael Dapaah
Leila Djansi
David Dontoh
Joselyn Dumas, actress
John Dumelo
Idris Elba, actor
Nii Odartei Evans, actor, producer, voiceover artist
Boris Kodjoe, actor
Dayan Kodua
Anita Kuma
Peter Mensah, actor
Majid Michel, actor
Yvonne Nelson, actress
Sika Osei
Nii Kwate Owoo
Kwesi Owusu
Kwame Owusu-Ansah
Hugh Quarshie, actor
Socrate Safo, director
Bob Santo
Hailliote Sumney
Van Vicker, actor
Zynnell Zuh

Comedians

Kofi Adu, actor and comedian
Michael Blackson, comedian
Abusuapanin Judas, actor and comedian
Jacinta Ocansey, comedian
Bob Santo, actor and comedian

Journalists

Jemila Abdulai
Edward Adeti, journalist
Roger A. Agana, journalist
David Ampofo
Nana Aba Anamoah, journalist
Anas Aremeyaw Anas, journalist
Godwin Asediba, Journalist
Nathaniel Attoh, journalist
Bernard Avle, journalist
Manasseh Azure Awuni, journalist
Kweku Baako Jnr, journalist
Juliet Bawuah
Kojo Akoto Boateng, journalist
Seth Kwame Boateng, journalist
Seth J. Bokpe, journalist
Robert Nii Arday Clegg, journalist
Solomon Joojo Cobbinah, investigative journalist
Akua Sena Dansua, journalist
Ameyaw Debrah, blogger and journalist
Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, journalist
Kofi Adu Domfeh
Komla Dumor, journalist
Cameron Duodu, journalist, broadcaster, writer
Ekow Eshun, journalist and broadcaster
Natalie Fort, journalist
Afua Hirsch, journalist
Akpene Diata Hoggar, blogger
Ahmed Hussein-Suale, investigative journalist
Mustapha Inusah, a.k.a. Attractive Mustapha - journalist
Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, journalist
Isaac Kaledzi, journalist
Kwami Sefa Kayi, journalist
Asare Konadu
Anita Kuma
Edward Oppong Marfo, journalist
Kent Mensah, journalist
Emma Morrison
Gamal Nkrumah, journalist, Pan-Africanist and editor
Samia Nkrumah, journalist
Pearl Akanya Ofori, journalist
Jessica Opare-Saforo
Brigitte Perenyi
Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, journalist

Military figures

Sarah Aba-Afari, first woman in the police service in both Ghana and Africa to earn a PhD
Akwasi Afrifa, soldier and former politician and head of state of Ghana
Joseph Arthur Ankrah, soldier and second head of state of Ghana
David Animle Hansen, Ghana Navy Chief of Naval Staff
Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, lieutenant general; commissioned as a lieutenant in 1954 and seconded to the British army on the Rhine
Rosamond Asiamah Nkansah, first Ghanaian policewoman
Jerry Rawlings, former president of the Republic of Ghana and Ghana Air Force fighter pilot

Physicians and surgeons

Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, dental surgeon and traditional ruler
Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, neurosurgeon
Beatrice Wiafe Addai, medical officer and surgeon
Kwame Addo-Kufuor, medical doctor
Raphael Armattoe, doctor, poet, politician
E. A. Badoe
John Bilson
Kofi Boahene
Ellen Boakye
Peter Bossman, doctor
Alexander A. Clerk, sleep medicine specialist and psychiatrist
Matilda J. Clerk, physician
Charles Odamtten Easmon, surgeon
Emmanuel Evans-Anfom, physician and academic
Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, cardiothoracic surgeon
Ernest James Hayford
Afua Adwo Jectey Hesse
Emmanuel A. Kissi
Jacob Kwakye-Maafo, physician and surgeon
Edward Mahama
Frederick Nanka-Bruce
David Ofori-Adjei
Susan Ofori-Atta
Benjamin Quartey-Papafio, first Ghanaian to obtain an MD degree
Bernard Ribeiro, Baron Ribeiro, surgeon and former president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Fred T. Sai, academic and family health physician

Politics

K. Abaka-Quansah, former MP
Ako Adjei, nationalist politician and one of The Big Six
Felicia Adjei - Member of Parliament for Kintampo
Justice Samuel Adjei - Former deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister
Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei - Former deputy minister of Trade & Industry of Ghana
Akwasi Afrifa - Former president
Adam Afriyie, British Conservative Party politician and businessman
Edward Akufo-Addo, former president and one of The Big Six
Nana Akufo-Addo, current president of the Republic of Ghana
Reginald Reynolds Amponsah
Joseph Arthur Ankrah, former president
Kofi Annan, 7th UN Secretary-General
Emelia Arthur - Former deputy Western Regional Minister
San Nasamu Asabigi - Former deputy Northern Regional Minister
William Ofori Atta, politician, founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention, one of The Big Six
Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, former MP and finance minister
Prosper Douglas Bani, former chief of staff
Albert Adu Boahen
Lord Paul Boateng, British Labour Party politician, member of House of Lords, solicitor, barrister and businessman
Peter Bossman, Slovenian politician
Ama Bame Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia, prime minister and author
J. B. Danquah, statesman, pan-Africanist, scholar, historian and one of The Big Six
Obuobia Darko-Opoku
Joyce Akoh Dei
Ambrose Dery, MP and minister
Victor Gbeho, diplomat
J. E. Casely Hayford, journalist, author, lawyer, educator, and politician
Haruna Iddrisu, MP and minister
Abu Kasanbata
John Kufuor, former president of Ghana, Global Ambassador against Hunger for UN World Food Programme
Ken Kwaku, corporate governance expert
Kwasi Kwarteng, British Conservative Party politician
Fiifi Kwetey, MP and minister
Alan John Kyerematen
John Mahama
Lucy Awuni Mbun
Abena Durowaa Mensah
Tina Gifty Mensah
John Atta Mills, former president of the Republic of Ghana
Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka
Cynthia Mamle Morrison
Janet Nabla
Paa Kwesi Nduom
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, politician, journalist
Justina Owusu–Banahene, Bono regional minister
Kwame Nkrumah, founder of Pan-Africanism, leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast and one of The Big Six
Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, politician, one of the founders and leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention and one of The Big Six
Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey
Nii Amaa Ollennu, chairman of the Presidential Commission and acting president of Ghana during the Second Republic from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970
Aaron Mike Oquaye
Victor Owusu
Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie
Naana Eyiah Quansah
Jerry Rawlings, former president
Charles Wereko-Brobby

Sports

Osumanu Adama - World champion boxer
Azume Adams - Footballer
Joseph Addai - American football player
Freddy Adu - footballer
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - Sprinter, World, Commonwealth and European championship medalist
Vida Anim - Athlete
Ezekiel Ansah - American football player
Stephen Appiah - Footballer, former captain of The Black Stars and Serie A, Supercoppa Italia winner
Kwadwo Asamoah - Former footballer and Serie A, Supercoppa Italia winner
Anita Asante - English Footballer
André Ayew - Footballer, CAF player of the year and Coupe de la Ligue-Trophée des Champions winner, Ghana's most capped national team player
Kwame Ayew - Footballer
Jordan Ayew - Footballer, Ligue 1 - Coupe de la Ligue - Trophée des Champions winner
Mario Balotelli - Footballer, UEFA Champions League - Premier League - Golden Boy winner
Ben Bentil - Ghanaian basketball player
Myron Boadu - Footballer
Jérôme Boateng - Footballer, World Cup - UEFA Champions league - UEFA Club world cup - UEFA super cup winner
Kevin-Prince Boateng - Footballer, Serie A - Supercoppa Italiana - La Liga winner
Bernard Dong Bortey - Footballer
Brian Brobbey - Footballer, Eredivisie - UEFA European Under-17 Championship winner - Ajax Player of the Year
Joshua Clottey - Former world champion boxer
Memphis Depay - Footballer, La Liga - Supercopa de España - UEFA European Under-17 Championship winner
Marcel Desailly - Footballer, captain of the football team FIFA World Cup, UEFA Super Cup - UEFA champions league and FA Cup winner
Isaac Dogboe - World champion boxer
Jeremy Doku - Footballer, Premier League - FIFA Club World Cup winner
Michael Essien - Footballer, CAF player of the year - Premier League - FA Cup - UEFA Champions League winner
Habiba Atta Forson - Football administrator and former track and field athlete
Timothy Fosu-Mensah - Footballer, UEFA Europa League winner
Jeremie Frimpong - Footballer, Bundesliga - DFB-Pokal - DFL-Supercup winner
Ignisious Gaisah - Athlete, World indoor - World outdoor - Commonwealth Games and euro championships winner
Hafiz Gariba - Footballer
Kim Grant - Footballer
Asamoah Gyan - Footballer AKA 'Baby Jets', African footballer of the year, Ghana all all-time top goalscorer and top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup
Callum Hudson-Odoi - Footballer, UEFA Champions League - UEFA Europa League - UEFA Super Cup - FIFA Club World Cup winner
Juliana Kakraba - Footballer
Kofi Kingston - Professional WWE wrestler
Rev Osei Kofi - Reverend and AFCON 1965 Winner and joint top goalscorer
Nana Yaw Konadu - World champion boxer
Abigail Kwarteng - High jumper
Lydia Mato - Middle-distance runner
John Mensah - Footballer
Nathan Mensah - Basketball center for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Pops Mensah-Bonsu - Basketball player
Azumah Nelson - World champion boxer
Eddie Nketiah - Footballer, FA Cup, FA Community Shield, EFL Championship winner
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - Skier
Winnifred Ntumi - Weightlifter
David Oduro - Footballer
Vida Opoku - Footballer
John Paintsil - Footballer
Thomas Partey, Footballer, La Liga - UEFA Super Cup - UEFA Europa League winner and Ghana player of the year
Abedi Pele - Footballer, AFCON - UEFA Champions League - French Division 1 winner, African footballer of the year and AFCON golden ball winner
Jarell Quansah - Footballer, Premier League and EFL cup winner
Clement Quartey - Olympic boxing silver medalist
Ike Quartey - Former world champion boxer
Baba Rahman - Footballer
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu Athlete, Olympian and Ghana 100m record holder and former world number 1
Kofi Sarkodie - Footballer
Charles Asampong Taylor - Footballer
Danny Welbeck - Footballer, Premier League - Club World Cup - FA Cup winner
Arthur Wharton - The first black professional association football player in the world
Iñaki Williams - Footballer, La Liga African MVP - Copa del Rey - Supercopa de España winner
Nico Williams - Footballer, UEFA Euro Championships - Copa del Rey winner
Cadman Evans Yamoah - High Jumper, African games winner
Rachel Yankey - Footballer
Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah - High Jumper, African games - African championships winner and NCAA T&F Championships runner up and Ghana's women's high jump record holder
Tony Yeboah - Footballer, Former leeds United player

Media

Dzifa Affainie
Roger A. Agana
Nana Aba Anamoah, media personality
Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Terry Baddoo, journalist and television news presenter
Margaret Busby, editor and publisher, founder of Allison & Busby
Ameyaw Debrah, blogger, publisher celebrity blogger
Marcel Desailly, pundit and former footballer
Afua Hirsch, journalist and television news presenter
Ras Kwame, DJ and radio presenter
Ras Mubarak, media consultant
Oral Ofori, digital storyteller
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu, television presenter
Amoaning Samuel, blogger and radio personality
June Sarpong, television presenter
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, media personality and entrepreneur
Mahama Shaibu
Alhassan Suhuyini, broadcast journalist
Reggie Yates, television presenter
Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah, Golden City Business Magazine

Writers and poets

Nana Achampong, novelist, poet and academic
Ama Ata Aidoo, writer
Mohammed Naseehu Ali, writer and musician
Kofi Anyidoho, poet and academic
Ayi Kwei Armah, novelist and social critic
Ayesha Harruna Attah, writer
Kofi Awoonor, poet and academic
Empi Baryeh
John Benibengor Blay
William Boyd, novelist and screenwriter
Roseanne A. Brown, fantasy and Young adult fiction novelist
Mabel Dove Danquah, journalist, political activist and creative writer
Amma Darko, novelist
Kwame Dawes, poet, editor and critic
Joe de Graft, playwright and dramatist
Portia Dery
Amu Djoleto, poet and educator
W. E. B. Du Bois, author, editor, sociologist, historian, civil rights activist and Pan-Africanist
Kodwo Eshun, writer, theorist and filmmaker
Yaa Gyasi, novelist
Henneh Kyereh Kwaku, poet, editor, health communication scholar
Kojo Laing, novelist
Lesley Lokko, novelist and architect
Atukwei Okai, poet, cultural activist and academic
Francis Ernest Kobina Parkes, poet
Nii Parkes, author, publisher and social commentator
Taiye Selasi
Efua Sutherland, playwright, poet and dramatist

Musicians

Gospel artists

Activists

Inventors and innovators

Others

Efua Asibon
Felicia Edem Attipoe
Maudlyn Akosua Awuku, women's rights advocate
Dr Ray Beat, record producer and sound engineer
Harriet Bruce-Annan, humanitarian
John Collins, UK born-Ghanaian guitarist, harmonica player and percussionist
Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Auditor-General of Ghana
Ruth Ama Gyan-Darkwa
Ama Hemmah
Eva Mends, economist
Molly Germaine Prempeh
Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah, transformational coach, mBIT Master Coach, corporate trainer, consultant, author, and columnist.
DJ Zel