In his book, ‘A Nation Into Retirement: A Narrative of a Statesman’, the medical doctor recounted how Kwame influenced his life after he had encountered him in Nsawam Prison.

Both astute state figures had met in Nsawam Prison way back during Ex-President Rawlings’ regime when Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe was jailed for five years for helping a German national move into Ghana from Togo.

Nyaho Tamakloe was jailed together with a Colonel who helped secure a permit for the German, both were sentenced to five years in prison.

“First, I was sent to Airport police station, then I was moved to James Fort where Nkrumah stayed before and by then we had so-called people’s court. By then, things were rough, I could have been killed,” he shared.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues, May 4 ahead of his book launch on May 7, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe disclosed that it was the second time he was going to serve jail sentence in Nsawam Prison.

His second jail sentence initiated his encounter with Kwame Pianim, a man who he later says would have been a great President. Kwame Pianim had served 10 years already in Nsawam prison before Nyaho Tamakloe met him.

He narrated how Kwame Pianim encouraged him to continue practicing as a medical doctor while he was still in prison.

“He contacted the Roman Catholic Church to renovate the clinic and I was practicing there. A prisoner looking after prisoners, not only them but officers and their families,” Nyaho Tamakloe recalled.

In his book, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe highlighted Kwame Pianim’s influence on him, pointing out his distinct leadership qualities. He said he became “so attached” and liked Kwame Pianim for his honesty, brilliance and sheer spot on advice.

He recounted how the Economist was able to set up a poultry farm in four months while he was still in prison which farm produce ended up feeding the Nsawam Prison inmates and the Ghana Airways at the time.

“Kwame did a lot of work; it was there that I realized he had the potential to lead this country. It was quite clear that two people that I saw in my life who leads the Presidency of this country, as for Kwame it was because he was denied it by the court. The other one died, that’s Kojo Baah Wiredu, an excellent man.

“Kwame, whiles a prisoner was able to have farm around the prison yard; pineapple and corn. One day, he invited me and Colonel Ennin and we went out of the prison gate, we were allowed.

“He said he was setting up a poultry farm, I though he was joking. In less than four months, his chickens were ready and he served the then Ghana Airways. So, such a person what couldn’t he do,” Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe shared.

Even when he was released from prison after serving two years in jail, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe would still visit the man who left a lasting impression on him.

His book, A Nation Into Retirement: A Narrative of a Statesman, will be launched on May 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM at Christ the King near Jubilee House.

Grab a copy at the University of Ghana bookshop to read the story of the statesman, his contributions to the formation of the NPP and the democracy Ghana

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