JH Mensah was Ghana’s best economist – Bawumia

The late JH Mensah was one of Ghana’s best economist, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said.

Mr Mensah died in the early hours of Thursday, 12 July 2018. He was a politician and an economist. He was 89.

Dr Bawumia in a tweet said : “Truly a mighty tree has fallen with the passing on of a statesman Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah (affectionately called J.H. Mensah)

“He passionately served his country with pride to enhance development and was a man of endearing charm and wit.”

He passionately served his country with pride to enhance development and was a man of endearing charm and wit.

He added : “For me, J.H. Mensah was a mentor. In my humble opinion he is probably the best economist Ghana has produced. Analytically amazing in the way he dissected issues and practical in his policy prescriptions. He was the author of President Kwame Nkrumah's seven year development plan.”

“My sincerest condolences go to his family, Government, People of Ghana and the fraternity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

My sincerest condolences go to his family, Government, People of Ghana and the fraternity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition.

Mr Mensah began working as an assistant inspector of taxes in 1953 while the Gold Coast was still under colonial rule.

In 1958, Mr Mensah joined the United Nations Secretariat at the Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies, in New York City, United States.

He returned to Ghana in 1961 as the Head of Agency at the National Planning Commission which drew and implemented the country's Seven-Year Development Plan (1962–1969).

In 1969, he was elected to parliament and became the Finance Minister until 1972, when he was replaced by future head of state Ignatius Kutu Acheampong after the military coup.

In 2005, he was appointed Senior Minister by President J.A Kufuor.

Truly a mighty tree has fallen with the passing on of a stateman Mr. Joseph Henry Mensah (affectionately called J.H. Mensah)

He passionately served his country with pride to enhance development and was a man of endearing charm and wit. pic.twitter.com/C9xkYzTX3g

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 12, 2018

For me, J.H. Mensah was a mentor. In my humble opinion he is probably the best economist Ghana has produced. Analytically amazing in the way he dissected issues and practical in his policy prescriptions. He was the author of President Kwame Nkrumah's seven year development plan.

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 12, 2018

My sincerest condolences go to his family, Government, People of Ghana and the fraternity of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition.

May his soul Rest In Peace

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 12, 2018