George Kingsley Acquah
11th Chief Justice of Ghana
(23rd including Gold Coast)
In office
4 July 2003 – 25 March 2007
Appointed byJohn Kufuor
Preceded byEdward Kwame Wiredu
Succeeded byGeorgina Theodora Wood
Supreme Court Judge
In office
1995 – 25 March 2007
Appointed byJerry Rawlings
Personal details
Born(1942-03-04)4 March 1942
Sekondi, British Gold Coast (now Ghana)
Died25 March 2007(2007-03-25) (aged 65)
Accra, Ghana
Nationality Ghanaian
SpouseMrs. Jane Acquah

George Kingsley Acquah MSG JSC (4 March 1942 – 25 March 2007) was the twenty-third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana[1](the eleventh since independence).[2] He was appointed as Chief Justice on 4 July 2003[3] and was the incumbent until his death.

Early life and education

Justice Acquah was born on 4 March 1942 at Sekondi in the Western Region of the then-British Gold Coast[4][5] to Isaac Yankson and Beatrice Acquah but was brought up by his stepfather, Isaac Charles Acquah. He had his basic education in a number of schools, namely Half Assini Methodist School, Cape Coast Methodist School, Ashanti Bekwai Methodist School, Akim Oda Methodist School, Nkawkaw Methodist School and Dunkwa-on-Offin Anglican School.[4]

He attended Adisadel College at Cape Coast, from 1957 to 1963 for his secondary and sixth form (college) education. He pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Ghana, Legon between 1964 and 1967 where he obtained a B.A (Hons) degree in philosophy. In 1970, he obtained the LL.B. (Hons) degree in law from the same university.[4][5] He continued to the Ghana School of Law where he obtained his Professional Certificate in Law and was called to the Bar in 1972.[4]

Working life

Justice George Acquah was in private legal practice at Cape Coast from 1972 until 19 September 1989 when he became a High Court Judge, working at Ho in the Volta Region.[4][6] He worked at the High Court until he rose to become an Appeal Court Judge in June 1994.[4][7] In 1995, he was appointed as a Supreme Court Judge.[5][7]

Other roles

Honours

Personal life

Justice Acquah was married to Jane Acquah. Together, they had six children.[7]

Death

Justice Acquah died of cancer on 25 March 2007, aged 65, in Accra. He was married with six children.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "List of Chief Justices". Judicial Service of Ghana. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Justice Acquah Is Dead". Top Stories. Graphic Communications Group Limited. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  3. ^ "New Chief Justice sworn into office". General News of Friday, 4 July 2003. Ghana Home Page. 4 July 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Death of the Chief Justice of Ghana". Judicial Service of Ghana. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  5. ^ a b c "Justice George Kingsley Acquah (Chief Justice )". Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Profile of Lead Faculties". Negotiation and Conflict Management Group. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  7. ^ a b c "Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Biography". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  8. ^ "the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute Report" (PDF). Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute. September 2006. p. 13. Retrieved 26 March 2006.
  9. ^ "Chief Justice is dead". General News of Sunday, 25 March 2007. Ghana Home Page. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
Legal offices Preceded byEdward Kwame Wiredu Chief Justice of Ghana 2003–2007 Succeeded byGeorgina Theodora Wood