Busia won a scholarship to Mfantsipim in 1927 and completed his secondary school course in 1930. He then entered Wesley College, taking the post-secondary teachers’ course in 1931 and 1932. From 1933 to 1934, he taught at Wesley College. In 1935, he entered Achimota College as an Achimota Council scholar and read for the Intermediate Arts Examination. He was appointed to the college staff and taught in the secondary and training college sections. He worked for the London University BA degree in Medieval and Modern History. He was selected for an Achimota Council Scholarship to Oxford in 1939 before he sat for the BA degree. He graduated from Oxford in 1941 and began an enviable academic career.

In 1942, Busia became one of the first people appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies as an assistant district commissioner. In 1947, he was awarded a DPhil for his thesis, ‘The Position of the Chief in the Modern Political System of Ashanti.’ Upon his return to the Gold Coast, he was appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Social Surveys of the Gold Coast Government. He conducted the seminal Social Survey of Sekondi-Takoradi (1950), a landmark study that remains a foundational reference material in the field.

Prof. Busia entered formal politics in 1951 as a member of the National Assembly (Parliament), representing the Asante Confederacy Council. In 1954, he won the Wenchi seat in Parliament on the ticket of the Ghana Congress Party (GCP). He later became a member of the National Liberation Movement (NLM) in the National Assembly in 1956 and subsequently led the United Party (UP), a coalition of minority parties in Ghana. Following Ghana’s independence in 1957, Prof. Busia became the first parliamentary opposition leader in an independent country south of the Sahara.

In 1969, Busia became a member of the Constituent Assembly that wrote the 1969 Constitution. When the ban on party politics was lifted, he helped found the Progress Party, which won the 1969 election, and he became the Prime Minister of the Second Republic. The Busia Administration spearheaded a ground-breaking Rural Development Programme, which yielded remarkable results through the construction of roads, schools, health facilities, and a range of initiatives to foster comprehensive national development. Notably, Busia’s tenure was distinguished by a singular achievement: he left office without any political prisoners in any jail in Ghana, a rare and commendable feat in an era marked by political turmoil.

Driven by his unflinching faith, humanitarianism, and unrelenting commitment to eradicating suffering, Prof. Busia dedicated his life to addressing the deep-seated poverty and misery that plagued Ghana. With visionary zeal, he worked tirelessly to implement transformative initiatives to uplift the nation. Unfortunately, his efforts were abruptly cut short by a military coup led by Colonel I K Acheampong on 13 January 1972 while he was in London. Busia remained in London as an exile until he died on 28 August 1978.

K A Busia’s legacy is anchored in a progressive centre-right vision—liberal conservatism—that blends liberal democratic ideals with conservative principles. As Prime Minister of Ghana, he advanced policies rooted in personal freedom, moral responsibility, and social advancement through a market-oriented yet compassionate governance model. His administration prioritised rural development, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship, notably through initiatives like the teak plantation project, linking economic progress with sustainable growth. A committed scholar, Busia viewed education as both a personal good and a civic duty, contributing seminal works such as Education for Citizenship (1950), Africa in Transition (1959), The Challenge of Africa (1962), and Purposeful Education for Africa (1964). His tenure also marked a golden era of media freedom, reinforcing his deep commitment to democracy.

Busia’s vision laid the intellectual and moral foundation for the United Party (UP) tradition, now embodied in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which aligns with liberal conservatism—balancing individual liberty with social protection. This values-based approach has been exemplified by President J.A. Kufuor (2001–2009) through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (2017–2025) through the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. Busia’s enduring ideal of a ‘Democratic Welfare Society’ continues to inspire a governance ethos defined by dignity, opportunity, and responsible freedom.

Prof. Busia’s tenure was not without controversy. His enforcement of the 1970 Aliens Compliance Order—originally introduced under the Nkrumah administration in 1963/65—led to the deportation of some undocumented foreign nationals and drew significant criticism. While the Order aimed to regularise immigration and safeguard employment for Ghanaians, critics viewed its execution as heavy-handed and socially disruptive.

Busia also faced backlash for remarks perceived as undermining judicial authority. In a widely debated instance, he asserted: “No court can enforce any decision that seeks to compel the Government to employ or re-employ anyone,” in response to a legal ruling involving civil service employment. Supporters saw this as a defence of executive discretion; critics viewed it as an overreach of executive power. Similarly, Busia’s explicit call for dialogue as the means to resolve the apartheid crisis in South Africa—an appeal that attracted widespread condemnation—ultimately foreshadowed the peaceful negotiation process that ended the regime.

Busia died in exile on 28 August 1978 in London; his remains were later returned to Ghana for a state burial honouring his principled leadership and lasting contributions.