List of Ghanaian writers

This is a list of Ghanaian writers.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Joseph Wilfred Abruquah (1920–1997), novelist^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Geormbeeyi Adali-Mortty (1916–), poet
• Kobena Eyi Acquah (1952–), poet^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Kofi Acquah-Dadzie (1939–), jurist, and writer
• Francis Agbodeka (1931–2005), academic and writer
• Jot Agyeman (1967–), media practitioner
• Ivor Agyeman-Duah (1966–), academic, writer, editor and film director
• Ama Ata Aidoo (1940–2023), playwright, poet, fiction writer and critic^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Kofi Akpabli (1973–), journalist, publisher, and travel writer.
• Kofi Aidoo (1950–), short story writer
• Mohammed Naseehu Ali (1971–), short story and non-fiction writer
• Joseph Godson Amamoo (1931–), journalist and author
• Anton Wilhelm Amo (c.1703–c.1759), philosopher^[Jahn]
• T. E. Anin (living), economist and author
• Kofi Anyidoho (1947–), poet and academic^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Anthony Appiah (1954–), philosopher, cultural theorist and novelist
• Ayi Kwei Armah (1939–), novelist^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• T. Q. Armar (1915–2000), publisher and textbook writer
• Raphael Armattoe (1913–1953), poet^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Portia Arthur (1990–), author, writer and reporter
• Bediako Asare (1930–), journalist and non-fiction writer also connected with Tanzania
• Meshack Asare (1945–), children's writer
• Yaw Asare (1953–2002), dramatist and director^[1]
• Mary Asabea Ashun (1968–), novelist^[2]
• Akwasi Bretuo Assensoh (1946–), journalist and historian^[3]
• Ayesha Harruna Attah (1983–), novelist^[4]
• Kofi Awoonor (1935–2013), poet, novelist and critic^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Nana Oforiatta Ayim (living), novelist and art historian
• Anthony Osarfo, screenwriter
• Jamuel Yaw Asare (living), poet, playwright and novelist (British Ghanaian)

B

• Adwoa Badoe, dancer and author
• Yaba Badoe (1954–), novelist and filmmaker^[5]
• Elizabeth-Irene Baitie (1970–), writer of fiction for young adults.
• Kofi Batsa (1931–1991)
• Mohammed Ben-Abdallah (1944–), playwright^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• J. Benibengor Blay (1915–), popular novelist, playwright and poet^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• William Boyd (1952–), novelist
• Kwesi Brew (1928–2007), poet^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Nana Brew-Hammond, journalist, poet, playwright and screenwriter^[6]
• Roseanne A. Brown (1995–), journalist and novelist.
• Margaret Busby (1944–), publisher, editor and dramatist^[7]
• Abena Busia (1953–), poet and academic^[8][9]
• Akosua Busia (1966–), actress, novelist and screenwriter
• Empi Baryeh, novelist

C

• Jacobus Capitein (1717–1747), minister and writer on slavery^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• Adelaide Smith Casely-Hayford (1868–1960), short story writer and educator^[Gikandi]
• Gladys May Casely-Hayford (1901–1950), poet^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• Gus Casely-Hayford (1964–), cultural historian
• J. E. Casely-Hayford (1866–1930), politician and novelist^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Jojo Cobbinah (1948–)
• Rita Akoto Coker (1953–), African romance novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Quobna Ottobah Cugoano (1757?–1801?), freed slave and autobiographer^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}

D

• J. B. Danquah (1895–1965), scholar, lawyer and politician^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• Mabel Dove Danquah (1910–1984), short story writer and journalist^[Gikandi]
• Meri Nana-Ama Danquah (1967–), editor, journalist, memoirist
• Amma Darko (1956–), novelist
• Nana Awere Damoah (1975–), author, poet and non-fiction writer
• Lawrence Darmani (1956–), novelist, poet, playwright, inspirational writer
• Kwame Dawes (1962–), poet, critic
• Joe de Graft (1924–1978), playwright and poet^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Michael Dei-Anang (1909–1977), poet, playwright and novelist^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Amu Djoleto (1929–), novelist, poet and educator^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• Komla Dumor (1972–2014), journalist
• Cameron Duodu (1937–), journalist, novelist and poet^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Dag Heward Mills(1963–), minister, popular author

F

• Ferdinand Kwasi Fiawoo (1891–1969), playwright^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Shirley Frimpong-Manso (1977–)

G

• Yaa Gyasi (1989–), novelist

H

• Manu Herbstein (1936–), novelist
• Dag Heward-Mills (1963–), theologian
• Afua Hirsch (1981–), journalist

K

• Ellis Ayitey Komey (1927–1972), poet and short story writer^[Jahn]
• Asare Konadu (1932–1994), novelist^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Benjamin Kwakye (1967–), novelist and poet

L

• B. Kojo Laing (1946–2017), novelist and poet^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Lesley Lokko, (1964–), novelist, architect and academic

M

• Tawiah M'carthy, playwright
• John Dramani Mahama (1958–), politician and memoirist
• Bill Okyere Marshall (1936–2021), playwright and novelist^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Peace Adzo Medie, writer
• John Atta Mills (1944–2012), politician and legal scholar
• Dayan Kodua, actress and model

N

• Caleb Azumah Nelson (1993/1994–), writer and photographer
• J. H. Kwabena Nketia (1921–2019), ethnomusicologist^[Jahn]
• Gamal Nkrumah (1959–), journalist and editor
• Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972), politician and political theorist^[Jahn]

O

• Richard Emmanuel Obeng (1877–1951), novelist and textbook writer
• Nana Oforiatta Ayim, art historian, filmmaker
• (John) Atukwei Okai (1941–2018), poet^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Kwesi Owusu (1950s–), author and filmmaker

P

• Frank Kobina Parkes (1932–2005), poet^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• Nii Ayikwei Parkes (1974–), poet, novelist
• Portia Dery, writer

Q

• Kwei Quartey, physician and writer
• Rex Quartey (1944–2015), writer and poet
• Ato Quayson (1961–), academic and literary critic

R

• Carl Christian Reindorf (1834–1917), pastor and historian^[Jahn]

S

• John Mensah Sarbah (1864–1910)
• Kobina Sekyi (1892–1956), politician and writer^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Ato Sekyi-Otu (born 1941)
• Taiye Selasi (1979–), novelist
• Francis Selormey (1927–1988), novelist^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Efua Theodora Sutherland (1924–1996), playwright^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Nana Sandy Achampong (1964–) novelist, poet and academic

W

• Kwasi Wiredu (1931–2022), philosopher

Y

• Asiedu Yirenkyi (1942–2018), playwright^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah (1980–), columnist

References

1. Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance, reprinted online
2. "Series combines literacy, science". Hamilton Community News. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
3. Johnson, Curt (1988). Who's who in U.S. Writers, Editors & Poets. December Press. p. 21. ISBN 9780913204214.
4. Interview with Ayesha Harruna Attah Archived 11 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 19 February 2009.
5. "An Interview with Ghanaian – British Writer, Yaba Badoe", Geosi Reads.
6. "African Writing". African Writing. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
7. "Advisory Board". Wasafiri. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
8. Margaret Busby (ed.), Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent, London: Jonathan Cape, 1992; Vintage, 1993.
9. "Abena Busia Discussion of Women Writing Africa". International.ucla.edu. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.

1. [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
2. [Gikandi & Mwangi] Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, eds, The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-231-12520-8
3. [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds, The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
4. [Jahn] Janheinz Jahn, Ulla Schild & Almut Nordmann Seiler, eds, Who's Who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag, 1972. ISBN 978-3-7711-0153-4