Charles “Charlie” Odamtten Easmon (22 September 1913 – 19 May 1994), was a medical doctor and academic who became the first Ghanaian to perform the first successful open-heart surgery in Ghana in 1964 and modern scholars credit him as the “Father of Cardiac Surgery in West Africa”.
He was born on 22 September 1913, in Adawso in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), to Kate Salome Odamtten (1893-1940) and John Farrell Easmon (c. 1881-1920). Charles Odamtten Easmon’s father, John Farrell Easmon was an accountant and the son of Dr. John Farrell Easmon, a member of the Easmon family medical dynasty of Sierra Leone.
Easmon’s mother, Kate, was from a prominent Osu family of Ga-Dangme and Danish descent. His maternal grandmother was from the Lokko family of Osu which was originally from Denmark and Germany.
Charles Odamtten “Charlie” Easmon started his education at Osu St. Thomas School in 1918 and continued at Osu Presbyterian Boys’ Boarding School (also referred to as Osu Salem or the Salem School at Osu) in 1928. Eason was subsequently won a Cadbury scholarship which enabled him to continue his studies at the prestigious Achimota College.
His continuous academic brilliance earned him a colonial government scholarship to undertake medical studies at the University of Edinburgh in 1935, where he obtained an MB.ChB. degree in 1940, alongside a diploma in tropical hygiene and medicine (DTM&H) in 1941.
Upon his return to the Gold Coast, he assumed duties at Korle Bu Hospital in Accra. Charles Odamtten Easmon’s professional endeavors were primarily centered at Korle Bu Hospital in Accra, where he made significant contributions to the medical field. Easmon’s career trajectory soared when Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana in 1960, appointed him as the Chief Medical Officer of the nation.
Despite his initial reservations, he transitioned into academia, becoming the inaugural Dean and Professor of Surgery at the newly established University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), marking a pivotal phase in his professional journey. He also played a pivotal role in founding the Osu Medical Association, dedicated to serving the people of Osu in Accra.
Easmon’s dedication to academia and excellence earned him recognition as a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, where he later assumed the presidency from 1977 to 1980. Easmon made history as the founding president of the Ghana Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Medical Association. Other esteemed positions Eason held were the first Dean of the Ghana Medical School, the first Professor of Surgery at the University of Ghana Medical School, and the first Ghanaian to preside over the West African College of Surgeons.
In July 1993, Easmon retired from his illustrious medical career, renowned for his lucrative private practice and his compassionate provision of free treatment to patients, solidifying his status as a household name across Ghana.
In recognition of his monumental contributions, the College of Health Sciences honored Easmon’s memory by dedicating its building to him in 2012, accompanied by the unveiling of a bust in his likeness. Additionally, the University of Ghana Medical School annually awards the Charles Easmon Prize in Surgery to the most outstanding medical student in the field of surgery, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations in the medical profession.
Charles Odamtten Easmon died on 19 May 1994 at age 80.
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