Lockhart, Richard Arthur, OBE
1893-1963; e.m. 1918

Irish minister and missionary, born in Belfast and educated at Methodist College. In 1922 he went out to the Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he became Principal of Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, which had opened in 1876. His principalship lasted until 1936. This marked a period of unparalleled growth and development within the school, with a new location and greatly enhanced buildings, a better trained, more Africanized and specialized staff, and higher academic success. The foundation was laid for it to become the leading secondary school in west Africa, enabling it to play an increasingly important part in the life of the region. Foremost among its former pupils is Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General. After seven years (1936-44) in Irish circuits, Lockhart was invited by the government of Kenya to become Principal of Kagumo teacher training college. His twelve years there overlapped with the emergence of the Mau Mau movement. His wife Eileen was lively and hospitable, contributing much throughout his ministry. He died in Belfast.

Sources
  • F.L. Bartels, The Roots of Ghana Methodism (1965) pp.197ff
  • A.A. Boahen, Mfantsipim and the Making of Ghana: A Centenary History, 1876-1976 (1996) pp.241-330