Ato Kwamina Yanney (Ato Yanney snr) was born on January 22nd, 1933, in Senya Bereku, Ghana's Central Region. He studied screenplay writing and directing at the London School of Film Technique and later pursued a degree in film critique and appreciation at the London University.
During his time in England, he wrote short stories for the BBC Home Service, which were broadcast to British audiences. Some of his notable works include "The Ominous Sneeze" and "It Came from Heaven," which were broadcast on the BBC Home Service.
Returning to Ghana, Ato Yanney joined the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (now Gama Film Company or GFC) in 1963 and became the Head of Production. He later left Ghana to study at the Feature and Documentary Film Studios in Poland.
At the Ghana Film Industry Corporation, Ato Yanney wrote and directed several documentaries addressing social, political, and religious issues. Some of his notable works include "Panoply of Ghana," "Market Day," "Cult of Twins," "Population Census," "Golden Pod," "Rainbow Colors," "New Breed," "Genesis Chapter X" (screenplay),"No Tears for Ananse" (screenplay),"Death on Wheels," and others.
He also wrote and directed "His Majesty's Sergeant," a 1983-84 film shot on PANAVISION wide screen (35mm),featuring Tumi Ebow Ansa, Tony Trent, Surinder Singh Ghuman, George Williams, Kofi Mends, and others. The short TV version was released in London by Big H Entertainment in 2011.
Ato Kwamina Yanney also wrote and directed video productions, such as "The Last Show" with Allen Gyimah's Video City in 1987, and served as a consultant with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the early 1990s. He was responsible for grooming celebrated film directors like George Bosompim, Ivan Quashigah, Yaw Boakye, William Tamakloe, and introducing celebrated filmmaker Kwaw Ansah into filmmaking.
He received honors for his contributions to the development of the Ghanaian film industry during the 40th anniversary celebrations and a certificate of distinction in script writing during the centenary of world cinema. Ato Kwamina Yanney was a regular contributor to articles on social, political, and religious issues in national dailies like the Daily Graphic and Times, and a member of the British Film Institute and the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts.
He passed away on April 10th, 2011, after a short illness. One of his works released after his demise is the "Old Simpson series," produced and directed by Ato Yanney Jnr, featuring the late Solomon Sampah as "Old Simpson."
