DR. FERDINAND KWASI FIAWOO, FOUNDER OF ZION COLLEGE

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Dr. Ferdinand Kwasi Fiawoo, was born on 26th December 1891. He was a Ghanaian minister of religion, playwriter, educator and the founder of the first secondary school ( Zion College) in the volta of Ghana.

Dr. Ferdinand Kwasi Fiawoo belong to the royal family of the Awadada stool of the Anlo state. Initially discouraged from joining the ministry but he entered business with a brother. After visiting Freetown in 1920, he began improving on his education and courses. In 1928 he traveled to the United States and studied at Johnson C. Smith university in charlotte, North Carolina. In five years he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Divinity degree, a Master of Theology degree and a certificate in education. While a student, he wrote his first ewe drama, 'Toko Atorlia' in 1932, which won a prize from the international Institute of African Languages and Culture, London. He was also ordained a minister of AME Zion church in Gloversville, New York in 1933.

Returning to the Gold Coast in November 1933, he was appointed a superintendent of the AME Zion church in East Gold Coast and General Manager of the Zion unit education in Keta. After co- founding the Gold Coast peoples college in Adidome, he set about founding a new private school in Anloga, the first secondary school in the volta region. In 1938 he opened the school with 44 students. His staffs and students raised funds to support the school through the Toko Atolia tour in 1940. Funding was also secured from the AME Zion church in 1948 and some government subsidize from 1952.

In 1945, He gained PhD from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He entered politics in 1951, as a member of the legislative Assembly of Gold coast representing the council of chiefs of Anlo state. His house was burnt down in Anloga during the riot against taxes in January 1935, and fiawoo did not return to politics after losing his Assembly seat in the 1954 elections. In 1966 he co founded the Bishop small Theological college named after John Bryan Small at Whuti.
Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Kwasi Fiawoo (right) with Rev. Osabutey-Aguedze

Location: Accra, Ghana

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