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Tetteh Kofi Obituary
Dec 2, 1939-Nov 27, 2015
Professor Tetteh Kofi, who taught economics at Stanford, the University of Notre Dame and the University of San Francisco, died peacefully on November 27th, 2015 at the age of 75 at his home in Berkeley, CA Born in Ada, Ghana, West Africa, he first came to the US in 1957, representing Ghana in the Herald Tribune Youth Forum after winning a national essay contest.Dr. Kofi graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1963 with a B.A in Political Economy. He then graduated with a B.S in Industrial Engineering in 1966 and completed a Ph.D in Economic Development in 1970, both at the University of California, Berkeley..
Dr. Kofi taught Economics with an emphasis on Development throughout his academic career, first at Stanford University from 1971-1979., then at University of Notre Dame from 1979 to 1981 and finally at the University of San Francisco from 1981 until his retirement in 2010.
He served as a consultant to the United Nations, Government of Ghana, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), African Development Bank, the World Bank and many other international agencies and institutions.
In 1990, Dr. Kofi was ranked as one of the top twenty black economists in the United States. He published many scholarly articles and treatises. He was also the co-author of "The Saga of African Underdevelopment" published in 2008 by Africa World Press, Inc.
In both his professional and personal life, Dr. Kofi maintained a strong belief in and commitment to successful development in Africa, based on principles of Abibirim: indigenous economics, rooted in and sensitive to Africa's unique historical, social and cultural institutions. He was very generous and did much for many.
Dr. Kofi is survived by his partner, Dr. Judith Wofsy, his sister, Norley Amartey, and many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and colleagues. He will be missed by many. He is being interred in Ada, Ghana; memorial services in the Bay Area are pending.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Tetteh Kofi
ROBERT ESSILFIE
July 9, 2025
Your works are alive even though you are no more.Keep resting Professor
Margo Davis
May 15, 2025
He was such a fun and joyous addition to our Stanford community in those years! I, too, remember those parties at his house! RIP Tetteh!
Francis Wong
January 13, 2022
I am forever grateful for Professor Kofi´s kindness and encouragement. He really helped shaped my world outlook!
Mathilde SOBIA
January 13, 2021
He was very warm to me while I was prepararing my graduation for a master degree in business administration at San Francisco, since we both were from west Africa. RIP TETEH KOFI.
Mathilde Sobia
November 15, 2020
He was a talented professor. RIP Teteh Koffi.
Alan Warhaftig
February 24, 2020
Last night I listened to tapes of two conferences I organized in 1974 as a 19 year old undergrad at Stanford, in which Tetteh Kofi was kind enough to participate. He introduced Joan Robinson at one conference and was on a panel with Richard Fagen, Jens Christiansen and Steve Weissman at the other. Nice man. Good teacher. I'm sorry to learn of his passing.
Eb Obeng-Nyarkoh
March 29, 2018
He was so nice to me during the two year period that I was a graduate student at USF and he opened his doors to me to use his home library. May his soul RIP
Dibodo Kaar
July 31, 2017
We will miss you. Rest in peace
June 22, 2017
He was the most generous, very kind and very loving person, May God Bless his soul. I promise I will always pray for him till I die I just saw by accident and I really feel terribly sorry.
Seeku Cleland
January 24, 2017
Professor Kofi was a great man and mentor. He will be sorely missed
Seeku Cleland
Francis Wong
October 15, 2016
I am sorry to hear about Professor Kofi's passing. I was a student of his at Stanford in the 1970s and was inspired by his work. I also remember that he had great parties at his house! I also agree that he was a generous soul who really encouraged me as a student.
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