Career
He was one of the co-founders of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP). After the independence in 1975 he became Minister of Social Affairs. He was asked by Pinto da Costa to come back to Sao Tome in 1987,in order to prepare the transition to a multi-party democracy.He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1988 to 1990, while being one of the main politicians preparing the new democratic constitution and the first free elections.
After the first free elections he became leader of the MLSTP which he turned into MLSTP/Social Democratic Party Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata.He led his party to winning the general elections in October 1994 and became Prime Minister.He held the post from 25 October 1994 to 15 August 1995.
A short lived military coup d"état temporarily deposed the elected government from 15 August 1995 to 21 August 1995. Civilian rule was restored on 21 August 1995 and Graça remained Prime Minister until 31 December 1995.
He published some works such as:
Essay on the Human condition in 2004, Edited by Iodine deficiency disorder - Institute for Democracy and Development
Che Guevara: mythical character, Issue Iodine deficiency disorder, and Autobiography
Political Memoirs of a Nationalist Sui Generis Santomense, Edition UNEAS
He died in 2013 at the age of 81.