We’ve decided to make a list of famous Ghanaians, either those born in Ghana or those whose origin can be traced to Ghana. One thing that is common among everyone we’ve listed here is that they have in one way or the other made a pronounced influence in the history of Ghana and the world at large via their diverse contributions in various fields and in all works of life.

Below is the comprehensive list of such individuals who are great men and women that will always be remembered and whose names will be etched in the annals of the history of this great nation. Here goes the list.

A Comprehensive List of Popular Ghanaians

Famous Ghanaian Academia and Educators

  • Ernest Aryeetey
  • George Ayittey, economist, author, professor and president of the Free Africa Foundation
  • James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, intellectual, missionary, and teacher
  • Beattie Casely-Hayford, engineer
  • Gus Casely-Hayford, curator and cultural historian
  • John Atta Mills, former President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and University professor of law
  • Edward S. Ayensu, economist, scientist and former chairman of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
  • Kofi Annan, economist and chancellor of the University of Ghana
  • Kwesi Botchwey, professor and lawyer
  • Ken Attafuah
  • Patrick Awuah,Jnr., founder of Ashesi University

Famous Ghanaian Film Actors and Directors

  • Freema Agyeman, actress
  • John Akomfrah, film director and screenwriter
  • Jackie Aygemang, Ghanaian actress
  • Akosua Busia, actress
  • Paul Danquah, Ghanaian-British actor
  • John Dumelo, actor
  • Idris Elba, actor
  • Boris Kodjoe, actor
  • Peter Mensah, actor
  • Majid Michel, Ghanaian actor
  • Hugh Quarshie, actor
  • Van Vicker, Ghanaian actor
Idris Elba, actor - Famous Ghanaians
thefilmstage.com

Famous Ghanaian Academics

  • Paa Grant, founder and the first chairman of the United Gold Coast Convention
  • James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, intellectual, missionary, and teacher
  • Kwame Anthony Appiah, philosopher and novelist
  • Kwasi Kwarfo Adarkwa, Ghanaian academician and the immediate past vice chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
  • Lawrence Henry Yaw Ofosu-Appiah, author and scholar
  • Dr. R. P. Baffour, academic, mechanical engineer and first vice chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Kwame Anthony Appiah - famous Ghanaians

Famous Ghanaians in Politics

  • Akwasi Afrifa, former president
  • Albert Adu Boahen,
  • B. J. da Rocha,
  • Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Ghana nationalist politician and one of the The Big Six
  • Edward Akufo-Addo, former president and one of the The Big Six
  • Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Ghanaian politician, one of the founders and leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention and one of the The Big Six
  • Victor Gbeho, a Diplomat
  • J. B. Danquah, Ghanaian statesman, pan-Africanist, scholar, historian and one of the The Big Six
  • J. E. Casely Hayford, journalist, author, lawyer, educator, and politician
  • Jerry Rawlings, former president
  • J. H Mensah
  • John Kufuor, former President of Ghana, Global Ambassador against Hunger for UN World Food Programme (WFP)
  • John Atta Mills, former President of the Republic of Ghana
  • Joseph Arthur Ankrah, former president
  • Kofi Annan, 7th UN Secretary-General
  • Aaron Mike Oquaye
  • Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak
  • Kofi Abrefa Busia, prime minister and author
  • Kwame Nkrumah, founder of Pan-Africanism, leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast and one of the The Big Six
  • 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
  • Victor Owusu
  • William Ofori Atta, politician, a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention and one of the The Big Six
  • Adam Afriyie, British Conservative Party politician and businessman
  • Kwasi Kwarteng, British Conservative Party politician
  • Paa Kwesi Nduom
  • Lord Paul Boateng, British Labour Party politician, member of House of Lords, solicitor, barrister and businessman
  • Peter Bossman, Slovenian politician
  • Reginald Reynolds Amponsah,
  • Yaw Osarfo-Maafo

Kwame Nkruma

Famous Ghanaians in Journalism

  • Akua Dansua, journalist
  • Komla Dumor, journalist
  • Cameron Duodu, journalist, broadcaster, writer
  • Afua Hirsch, journalist
  • Gamal Nkrumah, Ghanaian journalist, Pan-Africanist and editor
  • Samia Nkrumah, journalist
  • Elizabeth Ohene, journalist
  • Jefferson Sackey, journalist
  • Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, journalist

Akua Dansua

Famous Ghanaians in Sports

  • Asamoah Gyan, footballer
  • Abedi Pele, footballer
  • Azumah Nelson, world champion boxer
  • Clement Quartey, olympic boxing silver medalist
  • Ignisious Gaisah, athlete
  • Ike Quartey, former world champion boxer
  • John Mensah, footballer
  • John Paintsil, footballer
  • Joshua Clottey, former world champion boxer
  • Kim Grant (footballer), footballer
  • Kofi Kingston, professional wrestler
  • Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, skiier
  • Michael Essien, footballer
  • Nana Yaw Konadu, world champion boxer
  • Osumanu Adama, world champion boxer
  • Tony Yeboah, footballer
  • Vida Anim, female athlete
  • Stephen Appiah, footballer, former captain of the black stars.
  • Arthur Wharton, The first black professional association football player in the world
  • Anita Asante, English female soccer player
  • Danny Welbeck, footballer, plays for the England national football team
  • Freddy Adu, soccer player
  • Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, sprinter
  • Marcel Desailly, former French footballer
  • Mario Balotelli, footballer – with the Italy national football team
  • Pops Mensah-Bonsu, basketball player
  • Rachel Yankey, female footballer
Asamoah Gyan in action for Ghana
theguardian.com

Famous Ghanaians in Music Industry

  • A. B. Crentsil
  • Amakye Dede
  • Ben Brako
  • Bernice Offei
  • Bice Osei Kuffour
  • Daddy Lumba
  • Denzel Agyeman-Prempeh
  • Jay Ghartey
  • Kojo Antwi
  • Koo Nimo
  • Kwabene Kwabena
  • Nana Ampadu
  • Osibisa
  • Reggie Rockstone
  • Rita Marley
  • Rocky Dawuni
  • Sonnie Badu
  • Stella Seal
  • Stephanie Benson
  • Sway

See Also: 10 Best Ghana Music to Play Online

Reggie Rockstone
reverbnation.com

Famous Ghanaian in Business and Politics

  • Joyce Aryee, businesswoman and politician
  • Sam E Jonah, Businessman
  • Ken Ofori-Atta, founder of Databank
  • K. Y. Amoako, international civil servant for the United Nations and businessman
  • Thomas Edward Barter, 17th Century Cape Coast trader
  • Adam Afriyie, British Conservative Party politician and multimillionaire
  • Lord Paul Boateng, British Labour Party politician, member of House of Lords, solicitor, barrister and businessman

See Also: Largest Bank in Ghana – A Comprehensive List

Lord Paul Boateng

Famous Ghanaians in Media Business

  • JOT Agyeman, media practitioner, television anchor and actor
  • Afua Hirsch, journalist and television news presenter
  • Marcel Desailly, pundit and former footballer
  • Ras Kwame, DJ and radio presenter
  • Reggie Yates, television presenter
  • Terry Baddoo, journalist and television news presenter
  • Ras Mubarak Media Consultant
  • Timi Alegwé, YouTube comedian and host of the Timi Alegwé show
  • Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Anas Aremeyaw Anas
image via wikimedia.org

Famous Ghanaian Writers and Poets

  • Ama Ata Aidoo, writer
  • Amma Darko, novelist
  • Amu Djoleto, poet and educator
  • Ayi Kwei Armah, social critic
  • Efua Sutherland, playwright, poet and dramatist
  • Kofi Anyidoho, poet and academic
  • Lesley Lokko, novelist and architect
  • Francis Ernest Kobina Parkes, poet
  • Kwame Dawes, poet, editor and critic
  • Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Nii Parkes), author and social commentator
  • William Boyd (writer), novelist and screenwriter (born in Accra)
  • W. E. B. Du Bois, author, editor, sociologist, historian, civil rights activist and Pan-Africanist
W. E. B. Du Bois
harvard.edu

Famous Ghanaian Diplomats

  • Ambassador D. K Osei
  • K.B Asante
  • Mohammed Ibn Chambas
  • Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Former U.N Rep To Liberia
  • Lord Boateng
  • Akua Kuenyehia
Mohammed Ibn Chambas
youtube.com

Famous Ghanaians in the Fashion Industry

  • Joyce Ababio, fashion designer
  • Kofi Ansah, fashion designer
  • Ozwald Boateng, fashion designer
  • Joe Casely-Hayford, fashion designer
  • Mawuli Kofi Okudjeto, fashion designer
  • Tetteh Plahar, fashion designer

Ozwald Boateng