ODAMTTEN, SOLOMON EDMUND

Solomon Edmund Odamtten (1897-June 12, 1967) combined a successful career in commerce with active participation in social affairs and played a significant role in national politics from the 1940s to 1960s.

Born in 1897, he was educated at the Basel Mission school at Christiansborg, near Accra. He entered the civil service for a few months, but then in 1916 became a bookkeeper with the firm of F. & A. Swanzy Ltd., continuing his commercial career until his retirement in 1953, at which time he was credit manager with the United Africa Company Ltd. He later served for nine years as a member of the board of directors of the United Africa Trust Ltd. He also served on many government committees, was a director of the West African Airways Corporation and was a member of the British Council, the Royal Empire Society, and other organisations.

From 1936-47 he served as a member of the Accra Town Council at a time when the franchise was based on property qualifications. During the pre-independence period, when universal adult suffrage was introduced, he opposed the Convention People’s Party (C.P.P.), and unsuccessfully contested the Accra Central constituency against Kwame Nkrumah in 1956.

His sustained interest in politics culminated in his election as chairman of the opposition United Party (U.P.) in 1960, a post that, under the circumstances of the time it took courage to accept. The party’s organisation was not particularly strong, and Odamtten gave his own money lavishly to strengthen it. In 1960, at a rally in Accra, he introduced Dr. J. B. Danquah as the U.P.’s presidential candidate. Popularly known as “Solo”, he maintained cordial relationships with those with whom he came in contact, both African and European, throughout his career.

During the years of economic depression, he served as a link between the elite, both black and white, on the one hand, and ordinary people on the other. His connections in Accra, and his knowledge of local matters, won him a prominent position in the social life of the city. He was a member, and later chairman of the Rodger Club (the African counterpart of the European Club, that was named for Sir John Rodger, governor from 1904-10). He played a prominent role in social life, belonging to many voluntary organisations, including those connected with the Anglican Church, of which he was a member.

From the 1920s onwards he was interested in horse racing, and was a steward of the Accra Turf Club. He also served on the national executive committees of cricketing, lawn tennis, boxing, athletics, and football associations. He was the first honorary treasurer of the Gold Coast Amateur Sports Council, and helped raise funds for the construction of the Accra Sports Stadium. It was largely through his efforts that the football associations in Asante and Southern Ghana were merged.

As he was a prominent opponent of Kwame Nkrumah, it was paradoxical that Nkrumah’s eldest son, Francis, should have married Margaret, one of Odamtten’s daughters by his third wife, Marion. Odamtten died after a long illness on June 12, 1967. People of all walks of life attended his funeral, and jockeys on horseback, and other sportsmen, joined in the long funeral procession to pay him tribute.

SILVANUS K. ODAMTTEN