Nathan Quao
{{Short description|Ghanaian civil servant (1915–2005)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Special Assistant to the President
| president = Jerry Rawlings
| term_start = 1993
| term_end = 2001
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = Secretary at the PNDC Secretariat
| president1 = Jerry Rawlings
| deputy1 =
| term_start1 = 1984
| term_end1 = 1993
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| office2 = Chairman, Ghana Education Service Council
| president2 = I. Kutu Acheampong
| term_start2 = 1974
| term_end2 = ?
| predecessor2 = Position established
| successor2 =
| office3 = Secretary to the National Redemption Council & Head of the Civil Service
| president3 = I. Kutu Acheampong
| term_start3 = 1972
| term_end3 = 1973
| predecessor3 = Position established
| successor3 = E.M. Debrah
| office4 = Secretary to the President
| president4 = Edward Akufo-Addo
| deputy4 =
| term_start4 = 1970
| term_end4 = 1972
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| office5 = Secretary to the Presidential Commission & Council of State
| term_start5 = 1970
| term_end5 = 1970
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| office6 = Secretary to the Executive Council of the National Liberation Council
| term_start6 = 1969
| term_end6 = 1970
| predecessor6 =
| successor6 =
| office7 = Deputy Secretary to the National Liberation Council
| term_start7 = 1967
| term_end7 = 1969
| predecessor7 =
| successor7 =
| office8 = Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
| term_start8 = 1966
| term_end8 = 1967
| predecessor8 =
| successor8 =
| name = Nathan Anang Quao
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1915|11|21|}}
| birth_place = Adawso, Gold Coast
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2005|2|15|1915|11|21}}
| death_place = Accra, Ghana
| relations = {{Collapsible list|Carl Henry Clerk (brother-in-law)|Nii Amaa Ollennu (cousin)|Amon Nikoi (nephew)|Nicholas T. Clerk (nephew)|George C. Clerk (nephew)}}
| education = {{unbulleted list|Accra Academy|University College of the Gold Coast|University of London
(BA, PGCE)}}
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Civil Servant|Diplomat|Educator}}
}}
Nathan Anang Quao, {{post nominals|post-noms=MV, OSG}} (21 November 1915 – 15 February 2005) was a Ghanaian statesman and educationist who served as Secretary (Minister) at the PNDC Secretariat from 1984 to 1993 and Special Assistant to President Jerry Rawlings from 1993 to 2001. A career diplomat and civil servant, he retired as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service in 1973.{{Cite news|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/74014/nathan-quao-to-be-given-state-burial-on-april-8.html|title=Nathan Quao to be given state burial on April 8|work=ModernGhana.com|access-date=11 June 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Nathan-Quao-to-be-given-state-burial-on-April-8-77485|title=Nathan Quao to be given state burial on April 8|website=ghanaweb.com|date=30 November 2001|access-date=11 June 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Nathan-Quao-s-life-epitomises-the-Civil-Service-78893|title=Nathan Quao's life epitomises the Civil Service|website=ghanaweb.com|date=30 November 2001|access-date=11 June 2017}} Quao was the founding headmaster of Keta Secondary School in 1953 and was appointed the first chairman of the Ghana Education Service Council in 1974.
Early life and education
Quao was born at Adawso in the Eastern Region on 21 November 1915 where his father Daniel James Quao of La was based as a general commodities merchant.{{Cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/search/collection/results?count=75&query=+surname:CLERK~&collection_id=1496208|title=FamilySearch.org|website=familysearch.org|access-date=11 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822012904/https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/results?count=75&query=%20surname%3ACLERK~&collection_id=1496208|archive-date=22 August 2017}} His mother was Dinah Naa Densua Addy of Ga-Mashie. His maternal grandfather, Nii Ngleshie Addy I was of royal lineage and the oldest son of Nii Tetteh Tsuru I, the founder and ruler of the Otuopai Clan in Ga Mashie. He was a member of the Ga people of Accra.
After his elementary education at Presbyterian schools, he had his secondary education at Accra Academy from 1932 to 1935. Thereafter, he studied for his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London as an external student. He later obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University College of the Gold Coast, then a constituent college of the University of London.
Career
File:N.A. Quao blindfolding a cadet.jpg
Nathan Quao’s early career was in teaching. He taught at the Accra Academy starting in 1936 and was the first headmaster of the Keta Secondary School from 1953 to 1956. He also served as the Acting Principal of the Winneba Training College. Additionally, he taught at the Department of Teacher Training of the Kumasi College of Technology in 1957 and earlier on, at the Extra Mural Department of the University College of the Gold Coast from 1950 to 1951.
Quao joined the foreign service of the Ghanaian civil service in 1959, becoming a career diplomat and civil servant in Belgrade, Ottawa and Paris and as Counsellor to Ghana's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iMADAAAAMBAJ&q=nathan+anang+quao&pg=PA38|title=Jet|date=18 March 1965|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513230708/https://books.google.com/books?id=iMADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=nathan+anang+quao&source=bl&ots=8lpkx23XwV&sig=1tPCm-N2ZkpPNWZgXxJzeGIm8KI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0m4685YPbAhWmxFkKHVK3BUoQ6AEIXTAM#v=onepage&q=quao&f=false|archive-date=13 May 2018}} Later on, he was appointed the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1966.
After the overthrow of Nkrumah, the military junta transferred him to the Office of the National Liberation Council (NLC) where he was originally Deputy Secretary to the NLC government before being appointed Secretary to the Executive Council.{{cite journal |year=1969 |title=West Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IywOAQAAMAAJ&q=N.A.+Quao+ |journal=West Africa |publisher=Afrimedia International, 1969 |issue=2692–2717 |page=754}} The Executive Council stood as the collective executive authority until the election of the prime minister in the Second Republic.
In the Second Republic, he held the positions of Secretary to the Presidential Commission in 1969 and Secretary to the Council of State in 1970 and subsequently Secretary to the President upon assumption of the office of president by Edward Akufo-Addo.
Under the leadership of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Nathan Quao served as the Secretary to the National Redemption Council (NRC) and Head of the Civil Service, retiring in 1973.
In 1974, Quao was appointed the Chairman of the Ghana Teaching Council and a member of the Manpower Board.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IaxnW86XtfQC&q=nathan+quao+chief+of+staff&pg=PA22|title=The Mirror: Issue 2,208 March 22 1997|last1=Provencal|first1=E. N. O.|date=22 March 1997|publisher=Graphic Communications Group|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211213323/https://books.google.com/books?id=IaxnW86XtfQC&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=nathan+quao+chief+of+staff&source=bl&ots=gnpExgiMf8&sig=CedqFzJl0_mSU6uV-uzmJS9S8bU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizpqbd8oLYAhVChuAKHc8mCQQQ6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=nathan%20quao%20chief%20of%20staff&f=false|archive-date=11 December 2017}} In 1978, he was made chairman of the reconstituted Ghana Education Service Council.{{cite book|title= West Africa, Issues 3155-3180|url=|publisher=West Africa Publishing Company Limited, 1978|page=534}} In 1980, he became a member of the University of Cape Coast Council.
He was however plucked out of retirement in 1985 and appointed a Secretary at the PNDC Secretariat. Upon return to civilian rule in 1992, he became a Special Assistant to Jerry John Rawlings from 1993 to 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/ANNUAL-REPORT-TO-PARLIAMENT-ON-PRESIDENTIAL-OFFICE-STAFF-JANUARY-DECEMBER-1996-3151 |title=ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE STAFF – JANUARY – DECEMBER, 1996 |website=ghanaweb.com |date=30 November 2001 |access-date=11 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214932/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/ANNUAL-REPORT-TO-PARLIAMENT-ON-PRESIDENTIAL-OFFICE-STAFF-JANUARY-DECEMBER-1996-3151 |archive-date=9 October 2016 }}
Quao was chairman of the board of Agricultural Development Bank from 1990 to 2002.{{cite journal |year=1990 |title=AED: Africa Economic Digest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3cfqAAAAMAAJ&q=Nathan+Quao+ |journal=AED: Africa Economic Digest |publisher=MEED Limited, 1990 |volume=11 |issue=26–50}}{{cite book|title=The Europa World Year Book 2002, Volume 1, Parts 1-2|author= Europa Europa Publications|year= 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YUyrBwVFNI0C&q=nathan+quao|page=1794|publisher=Taylor & Francis Group, 2002|isbn= 9781857431285}}
Personal life and family
He was married to Dora Tawia Quao (née Mettle) with two children. In addition, Quao's cousin was the Ghanaian barrister and judge, Nii Amaa Ollennu who was elected the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana during the Second Republic as well as serving as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission and acting President of Ghana from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970.{{Cite web|date=14 April 2005|title=Official Web Site for the Judicial Service of the Republic of Ghana|url=http://www.judicial.gov.gh/history/list_lawyers/home.htm|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414064831/http://www.judicial.gov.gh/history/list_lawyers/home.htm|archive-date=14 April 2005|access-date=11 June 2017}} Quao was the uncle of the Ghanaian economist and diplomat, Amon Nikoi, who was the Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 1973 to 1977 and Finance minister from 1979 to 1981.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Former-Bank-of-Ghana-Governor-buried-at-La-28089 |title=Former Bank of Ghana Governor buried at La |website=ghanaweb.com |date=30 November 2001 |access-date=11 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421092109/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Former-Bank-of-Ghana-Governor-buried-at-La-28089 |archive-date=21 April 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=171 |title=Dr Amon Nikoi, Former Governor of the Bank of Ghana |website=ghanaweb.com |access-date=11 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027192942/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=171 |archive-date=27 October 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=http://rulers.org/rulg1.html#ghana |title=Countries Ga-Gi |website=rulers.org |access-date=11 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403074857/http://www.rulers.org/rulg1.html |archive-date=3 April 2007 }} His brother-in-law, the Rev. Carl Henry Clerk (1895–1982) was an agricultural educator and Presbyterian minister who was elected the fourth Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast from 1950 to 1954.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nL8DAAAAMBAJ&q=carl+henry+clerk+gold+coast&pg=PA47|title=Jet|date=26 August 1954|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329232757/https://books.google.com/books?id=nL8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=carl%20henry%20clerk%20gold%20coast&source=bl&ots=OOY7DOpf-W&sig=gFZwpVK6_fm38SYCEfqu1bVK6c4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-jYWErOXSAhVK6GMKHVXKCOQQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=carl%20henry%20clerk%20gold%20coast&f=false|archive-date=29 March 2017}}{{Cite book|title=Obituary: The Reverend Carl Henry Clerk|last1=Clerk|first1=Nicholas, T.|publisher=Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Funeral Bulletin|date=5 June 1982|location=Accra}} Clerk was also the Editor of the Christian Messenger, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana from 1960 to 1963. Carl Clerk's sons were the academics, Nicholas T. Clerk and George C. Clerk.{{Cite web|url=http://www.odadee.net/school|title=PRESEC {{!}} ALUMINI PORTAL|date=11 November 2016|access-date=11 June 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111065106/http://www.odadee.net/school|archive-date=11 November 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.odadee75.org/downloads/70years.pdf|title=70 years of excellent secondary education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722010817/http://www.odadee75.org/downloads/70years.pdf|archive-date=22 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=16 June 2017}}
Death and state funeral
Nathan Quao died in Accra on 15 February 2005 of natural causes. He was accorded a state funeral on Friday 8 April 2005 at the Forecourt of the State House and buried at the La Public Cemetery by the Ghanaian government as a token of the state's appreciation of his distinguished service to the country.
Legacy and honours
He was a recipient of the Order of the Volta (Civil Division) in 1975 and the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Civil Division) in 1997.
In recognition of his service to the Ghanaian civil service, the Civil Service and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) renamed its auditorium in his memory.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/clogsag-honours-nathan-quao-118825 |title=CLOGSAG honours Nathan Quao |access-date=27 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626172854/http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/clogsag-honours-nathan-quao-118825 |archive-date=26 June 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=http://m.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201706/318453.php|title=Public Servants Have no Excuse to be Mediocre – Rawlings|last1=Online|first1=Peace FM|website=m.peacefmonline.com|access-date=11 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211213323/http://m.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201706/318453.php|archive-date=11 December 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/public-servants-have-no-excuse-to-be-mediocre-rawlings.html|title=Public servants have no excuse to be mediocre – Rawlings|last=Dominic Moses Awiah & Isabella Hackman|date=24 June 2017|website=graphic.com.gh|access-date=17 April 2019}} In addition, the Association made a book compilation of Quao's writings and memoirs to preserve his legacy. Furthermore, the Local Government Service of Ghana instituted "an Annual Awards Scheme as part of the United Nations / African Union Public Service Day to be sponsored by the Government of Ghana in his honour." The Government of Ghana instituted the "Nathan Quao Award for Excellence in Civil Service" to recognise "outstanding civil servants who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service, integrity and exemplary performance.{{Cite web |last=Akpalu |first=Atitso |title=RESETTING THE CIVIL SERVICE: Freeing It from Political Influence |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1381645/resetting-the-civil-service-freeing-it-from-polit.html |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}
A boys' dormitory at the Keta Secondary School, Quao House was named in his honour as the founding headmaster of the school.{{Cite web|url=http://dzolali85.webs.com/schoolhistory.htm|title=School History|website=Ketasco 1985 Year Group|access-date=14 July 2017}}
The Nathan Quao Street in the Accra suburb, Kaneshie, was named after him.{{Cite web|title=Nathan Quao St|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nathan+Quao+St,+Accra,+Ghana/@5.5696958,-0.2358715,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0xfdf99e362618f55:0x300403c4addf3560!8m2!3d5.5696958!4d-0.2336828|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Nathan Quao St|language=en}}
In 2018, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) instituted the Nathan Anang Quao annual lectures "not only to celebrate Mr. N.A. Quao a distinguished civil servant but also to continue to emphasize on the critical need for civil and local government service staff to exhibit professionalism and remain non-partisan in the performance of duties and service to the country."{{Cite web |date=2021-10-06 |title=CLOGSAG celebrates Nathan Anang Quao … a civil servant extra-ordinaire |url=https://thenewindependentonline.com/2021/10/06/clogsag-celebrates-nathan-anang-quao-a-civil-servant-extra-ordinaire/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The New Independent Online |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quao, Nathan}}
Category:Alumni of the Accra Academy
Category:University of Ghana alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of London
Category:Ghanaian civil servants
Category:Heads of schools in Ghana
Category:Permanent representatives of Ghana to the United Nations
Category:Ghanaian Presbyterians
Category:Recipients of the Order of the Volta