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The Professor
Prof. Kwame Henaku Addo By Douglas Akwasi Owusu
A key factor in developing nations is its ability to bridge the gap between policy and implementation through the use of creative and imaginative skills. A project begins with a dream, idea or vision followed by technical considerations and finally physical development. The links between these broad areas become the catalyst for tackling the socio-economic agenda.
Over the years Ghana has produced shining examples of local and international talents in various fields. Today we are still struggling to harmonize and utilize their expertise towards national development. That is why it has become very necessary and vital for us to take a closer look at the dreams, designs and projects of a Ghanaian visionary.
This Visionary is little known in his own country but has achieved so much at the international level. Some of his major achievements include the design of the 190EMercedes Benz car which is used worldwide, the architectural design of the BBVA Bank headquarters and the Colombian commemorative currency note for the discovery of the Americas, but his creativity has no limit!...he is a jack of all trades-an artist, designer, architect, musician, visualizer, communicator to mention a few and, in his case,
Colombian Currency Notes
Designed by Professor Addo a master of them all!
He transforms his dreams and ideas into reality, a factor which is amply evident in his outstanding works of art scattered around world.
His exceptional professional experience includes participating in residential, commercial and recreational projects in Europe, America and Africa while working as the Regional Development Manager of the Dubai based firm ‘Select Contracts’ providing turnkey solutions for the leisure and entertainment industry.
In the United Kingdom, he shares his vision with the GMW partnership (chartered architects and designers) London, to design business parks and with the creative communications firms of London, Robert Hinton and partners developing high end product branding campaigns.
His warm and charismatic human relations while living in South America firmly established a unique bonding with the people of the region and beyond…but the profile just gets bigger and better!
This is Prof. Kwame Henaku Addo, a native of Abiriw Akwapim in the Eastern Region. Born in Tamale on August 9, 1957 and educated at the Mort Lake School UK, Akropong Demonstration School, Akropong Akwapim, Achimota Primary, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Rhode Island School of Design, USA.
Right
'The Call'
A painting by Professor Addo from his formative years, his father, the late Dr. Clifford Diabene Addo, a surgeon and Jamaican mother, Millicent Lydia Addo, a midwife and musician, gave him all the necessary encouragement to project his innate talents through frequent exhibitions and providing him with challenging educational material, Kwame was quick to discover and identify with a wide variety of role models in his own creative world. They included artists of the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Ato Delaquis, Dr. Oku Ampofo, architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Kwesi Hazel and Philip Johnson who later became his lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States of America.
Who is speaking here? Knowing him as an acclaimed architectural and industrial design professor who has lectured in many universities around the world and with many publications to his credit, I also discovered that he has immense musical talent.
Music had soon become a crucial area of influence in his approach towards life, a factor which was inspired by musical icons such as Steve Wonder, Carlos Santana, Koo Nimo, George Benson, and Osibisa. His compositions which are played and sold across the globe by EMI Publishing, Power House Records and CBS
New Master plan
Redesigned Accra records include Arriba, Mixed feelings, Samba Highlife, Obaa Frema, Celebration of Love and Moonlight Dancer.
But perhaps what makes his compositions unique and universally acceptable is the fact that many of the songs have been used as soundtracks for Hollywood movies and signature tunes for cable networks such as E entertainment, BBC1 & 2 NTI network, Channel 4 as well as Discovery and Travel channels.
How did a Ghanaian decide to carve out his professional life in the Spanish speaking South American country of Colombia?
For an answer, Professor Addo narrates:
“Well…in 1983, after working as an assistant architect for Malcolm Grear Associates on a city concept for Saudi Arabia in Manhattan USA, I was awarded a contract by Toro & Company, an architectural and engineering firm, to participate in the design of a major bank headquarters in Bogota, Colombia.
“This became an important platform to experiment with my futuristic special ideas nursed back on the KNUST campus five years earlier.
(The project will soon became one of the most modern edifices in the country and immediately drew the attention of all the institutions of high learning)
“While being co-opted into the academia of
Park of the Americas
Prof Addo was the architect and visualiser of this theme park of the Americas my new environment, I had the unique opportunity to illustrate the official national symbols, produce books for architects and design cultural centres and promote Ghana and Africa as a whole.”
During this interview, I observed that Prof. Kwame Addo’s ambitions had no frontiers and I continued to marvel at his humble zeal for excellence. Indeed it was clear that anything he imagined, he worked hard to make it happen!
As an adviser to the governments of Venezuela and Ghana, he has worked on turkey transformational projects in the petroleum, housing, transportation and tourism industries in those countries. As a member of the planning committee for the international university, Agro Eco Turistico Robinsoniana in Venezuela, Prof. Addo had collaborated with Mayors from the state of Miranda to project tourism and bilateral educational programs towards promoting South-South relations with the continent of Africa.
In 1993 he was the Senior Special Projects Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) who designed its new corporate image, annual reports, staff uniforms, staff housing, camp site layouts and office furniture.
Earlier, in 1986 he participated in the design of a petroleum village for (ECOPETROL) and collaborated in the architectural and interior
Odor River
Futuristic design of Accra with the Odor River drainage design of Occidental Oil’s regional head office in South America.
It will surprise you to know that Prof. Addo a renowned artist has held several fine art exhibitions in galleries around the world and his works have found themselves into private homes, cultural centres, corporate buildings and presidential palaces impacting his audience in many different ways with his pastel, acrylic and oil paintings presented in the USA at School One gallery, Providence, International House of Rhode Island, Third World Gallery, New Bedford and in Ghana at the Arts Centre and National Museum, to mention a few.
Some of his awards include the ‘Button of Honour’ and honorary citizen of cities in the Cauca Valley State of Colombia and the prestigious Award of Merit for promoting the arts and design in South America. But why has such a colossus taken such a long time to be exposed to the Ghanaian general public?
For him, the answer is simple: “There is a specific time for everything under the sun but the most important issue is not when you come out but how you come out.”
Asked how his immense talents and expertise, which other countries have benefited from
Science Fiction
The professor also draws comics and science fiction art so much are going to positively impact on the socio-economic and cultural landscape of Ghana, Professor Addo says: “In order to contribute positively to national development let us master plan properly while at the same time working hand in hand with our rich human resources to formulate creative and imaginative approaches that unite, uplift and inspire Ghanaians now and in the near future”
“Yes, Ghana will rise!...but remember that it is the great mind which makes things happen by the grace of God.”
There is no doubt in the minds of many of the tremendous positive impact men of imagination can offer to the society as a whole….but after all that has been said and done, a series of pertinent questions rush through my excited mind:
Are we, as a people, ready accommodate, understand and utilize visionaries and innovators who make things happen? Let us find out in the continuation of this unique personality profile because….seeing is believing. Watch out!
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