Francis Misheck Minah (19 August 1929 – 1989) was a Sierra Leonean statesman,
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solicito ...
and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
who served as First Vice President of Sierra Leone from 1985 to 1987 under
President Siaka Stevens.
An ethnic Mende from the
Pujehun District
Pujehun District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Pujehun District is one of the sixteen Districts of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is the town of Pujehun . The other major towns in the district include Gando ...
, he became a member of the House of Representatives in 1967. He had previously served as
Minister of Foreign Affairs
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
,
Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental health.
Coun ...
,
Minister of Trade and Industry and
Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
In 1987, Minah was investigated by
Inspector General Bambay Kamara for plotting a coup against
President Joseph Saidu Momoh. He was convicted along with 17 others after a five month trial and subsequently hanged for treason in 1989.
A team of international oberservers from
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and th ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Algeria
)
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and
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
all concurred that the trial was justified, and was not politically motivated.
Early life and education
Minah was born on 19 August 1929 in
Sawula,
Pujehun District
Pujehun District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Pujehun District is one of the sixteen Districts of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is the town of Pujehun . The other major towns in the district include Gando ...
,
British Sierra Leone
The Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone (informally British Sierra Leone) was the British colonial administration in Sierra Leone from 1808 to 1961, part of the British Empire from the abolitionism era until the decolonisation era. The Crow ...
.
He was a cousin of
Siaka Probyn Stevens.
He received his education at Methodist Boys High School and read law at
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King G ...
.
In 1962, he was called to the bar at Grays Inn.
Minah was a member of the
Mende ethnic group.
Career and politics
He operated a private law practice in Sierra Leone.
He was one of Siaka Stevens' closest political allies.
In 1967, he entered politics and became a member of Parliament for Pujehun South District rising through the ranks and eventually becoming Vice President of Sierra Leone.
During his tenure, Minah became one of the most powerful politicians in Sierra Leone.
Minah orchestrated the constitutional amendments necessary for President Stevens to pass over Vice President S.I.Koroma and make Brigadier General Joseph Saidu Momoh his successor.
He returned to Sierra Leone and served in many capacities as Sierra Leone's
Minister of Foreign Affairs
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
,
Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental health.
Coun ...
,
Minister of Justice
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in ...
and
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
and
Minister of Finance
A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation.
A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", ...
,
under former president
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens (24 August 1905 – 29 May 1988) was the leader of Sierra Leone from 1967 to 1985, serving as Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Prime Minister from 1967 to 1971 and as President from 1971 to 1985. Stevens' leadership was ofte ...
. He was later appointed the
Vice President of Sierra Leone under former president
Joseph Saidu Momoh
Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh, OOR, OBE (January 26, 1937 – August 3, 2003) served as President of Sierra Leone from November 1985 to 29 April 1992.
Early life and education
Joseph Saidu Momoh was born on January 26, 1937, in Binkolo, ...
administration.
Trial and execution
On 23 March 1987, police raided a house in Freetown and reported the discovery of heavy artillery, including rocket launchers.
Minah and 17 others (including
Jamil Sahid Mohamed) were arrested and accused of planning to assassinate President Momoh and intending to stage a
coup d'état in order to make Minah president of Sierra Leone.
In October 1987, after a five-month trial and four hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a guilty verdict.
The former First Vice President and 17 others were convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
Legacy
He is survived by his children Katie Minah, John Minah, Feimatta Otusanya nee Minah, Vandi Minah, Francis Minah and Christian Minah, his sister Paramount Chief
Matilda Lansana Minah MP (Sierra Leone), his brother, Jacob Minah and many nieces and nephews.
References
Further reading
*
James Bambay Kamara
*
John Amadu Bangura
Brigadier John Amadu Bangura, CBE (8 March 1930 – 29 March 1970) was a Sierra Leonean who served as Chief of the Defence Staff of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces from 1968 to 1970. Prior to this in 1967, he served as the Sierra Leonean Amb ...
*
Joseph Saidu Momoh
Major General Joseph Saidu Momoh, OOR, OBE (January 26, 1937 – August 3, 2003) served as President of Sierra Leone from November 1985 to 29 April 1992.
Early life and education
Joseph Saidu Momoh was born on January 26, 1937, in Binkolo, ...
*
Siaka Probyn Stevens
External links
*http://cocorioko.net/app/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=388&Itemid=1
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minah, Francis
1929 births
1989 deaths
Alumni of King's College London
Executed Sierra Leonean people
Vice-presidents of Sierra Leone
People executed by Sierra Leone by hanging
20th-century executions by Sierra Leone
All People's Congress politicians
Finance ministers of Sierra Leone
Foreign Ministers of Sierra Leone
Government ministers of Sierra Leone
Mende people
Attorneys-general of Sierra Leone
People from Pujehun District