Akua Asabea Ayisi was a journalist, feminist, lawyer, and High Court Judge whose life exemplifies courage, intellect and the fight for women's empowerment.

She participated actively in the fight for independence by writing articles that challenged gender norms.

In 1948, Ayisi joined the Convention People's Party (CPP), led by Kwame Nkrumah and became one of Ghana’s first female journalists.

She trained under the pioneering journalist Mabel Dove-Danquah and worked alongside Nkrumah at the Accra Evening News.

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As editor of the women’s column, Ayisi tackled issues affecting women, a radical move in a male-dominated society.

She also participated in country-wide lecture tours alongside fellow journalists, promoting resistance against British colonial rule. Her activism extended to the “Positive Action” campaign, which included strikes and boycotts that resulted in periods of imprisonments.

Later, she became Nkrumah’s first private secretary, helping craft slogans and political pamphlets that inspired the fight for independence.

A tribute by the Newnham College of the University of Cambridge stated that, “Akua Asabea Ayisi worked closely with Kwame Nkrumah, the Pan-Africanist, socialist and philosopher who led Ghana to independence from British rule in 1957. Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party welcomed the participation of women like Ayisi. Nkrumah himself stated that the degree of a country’s revolutionary awareness may be measured by the political maturity of its women.”

Her involvement in the Convention People's Party included support for the non-violent "Positive Action" campaign of strikes and boycotts, which resulted in her imprisonment, underscoring her commitment to revolutionary change where women's political maturity was seen as a measure of a nation's progress.

Political engagement and constitutional work

Ayisi’s commitment to national development extended beyond the courtroom. She participated in Ghana’s constitutional assemblies after the 1966 overthrow of Nkrumah and again in 1978, contributing to the drafting of democratic frameworks for the nation.

In 1969, she became one of the first women to contest a parliamentary seat in Akuapem North District, further demonstrating her dedication to women’s political empowerment.

Here is her brief profile

Ayisi attended Presbyterian Primary School in Mampong, then Presbyterian Girls’ School in Osu, Accra, before completing her studies at the Government Secretarial School.

After independence, Ayisi pursued higher education abroad, to study history at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, and matriculating in 1959.

She was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1963 and briefly worked at Paris-Sorbonne University before returning to Ghana.

Meet Mabel Dove Danquah: The woman who defied colonial power

As a journalist, activist, lawyer, and judge, she challenged societal norms, elevated women’s voices, and contributed significantly to Ghana’s independence and governance.

She passed away in April 2010.

JKB/VPO


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