Nana Awuah Darko Ampem I


Nana Awuah Darko Ampem was a Ghanaian financier and chief who led private involvement of Ghanaians into the insurance industry of Ghana.
Awuah Darko helped in founding many existing notable financial institutions in Ghana including Vanguard Assurance,which remains the only insurance company in the CIMG Hall of fame.He was the Nkosuohene of Asante Juaben.
Awuah-Darko was the first President of the Chartered Institute of Insurance Ghana.

Early life

Awuah Darko was born in 1932.
Awuah Darko attended Accra Academy for secondary education, completing in 1951.

Career

Nana Awuah Darko Ampem started his insurance career as an insurance broker. He established Marine and General Insurance Brokers in 1969 after returning from his studies and working abroad. Marine and General Insurance Brokers was the first insurance brokering firm in Ghana. He was the first president of the Chartered Institute of Insurance Ghana in 1972. In 1972, a law was passed which made it obligatory for all government institutions in Ghana to deal directly with State Insurance Company and not through a broker. This compelled Awuah-Darko to start Vanguard Assurance in 1975. Vanguard Assurance is the first indigenous privately owned insurance company in Ghana. Nana Awuah Darko Ampem was a father-figure to many Ghanaian entrepreneurs who were to later come into the insurance industry. A notable example was Kwesi Essel-Koomson of KEK Insurance Brokers; the largest insurance brokering firm in Ghana, for whom Awuah-Darko suggested and encouraged an insurance career. Awuah-Darko was the founder and Chairman of the Ghana Leasing Company Limited. He served on various Boards amongst which include CAL Bank which he was amongst the three founding directors and City Investment Company Ltd which is now operating as Premium Bank. Awuah-Darko was a Council member of the Ghana Stock Exchange and a member of the Asanteman Finance Advisory Committee.

Chieftaincy

In 1985, the Asantehene first made room for the enstoolment of an Nkosuohene in Asante. Following his overlord, the Asantehene's lead, the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe selected Nana Awuah Darko Ampem to become the Nkosuohene of Asante Juaben.
As a progress chief, he appropriately served as Chairman of the Juaben Rural Bank. Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem was the Chairman of the Juaben Rural Bank from its inception in October 1984 till December 2005.

Sports

Nana Awuah Darko Ampem was the first Ghanaian Captain of the Accra Polo Club. In later life, he became a member of the board of trustees of the Accra Polo Club. Nana was also a former Chairman and a life patron of the Ghana Squash Association.

Personal life and family

Nana Awuah Darko Ampem was married to Judith Ellen Awuah-Darko.

Death

Awuah Darko died on Sunday 25 November 2005 at the 31 Military Hospital in Accra and was buried on 23 February 2006.