Edward Akufo-Addo

Edward Akufo-Addo
Edward Akufo-Addo
2nd President of Ghana*
(5th Head of State of Ghana)
(Second Republic)
In office
31 August 1970 – 13 January 1972
Prime Minister Kofi Busia (1969–1972)
Preceded by Nii Amaa Ollennu
Succeeded by Gen. I.K. Acheampong
3rd Chief Justice of Ghana
(15th including Gold Coast)
In office
1966–1970
Preceded by J. Sarkodee-Addo
Succeeded by Edmund A.L. Bannerman
Personal details
Born (1906-06-26)26 June 1906
Dodowa, Gold Coast
Died 17 July 1979(1979-07-17) (aged 73)
Accra, Ghana
Nationality Ghanaian
Political party Non-partisan
Spouse(s) Adeline Y. Akufo-Addo (née Nana Yeboakua Ofori-Atta) (d. 2004)
Children Nana Akufo-Addo
Profession Judge, Lawyer
Religion Christian
*Ceremonial President with executive powers vested in Prime Minister

Edward Akufo-Addo (26 June 1906 – 17 July 1979) was a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He was a member of the "Big Six" leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), and one of the founding fathers of Ghana who engaged in the fight for Ghana's independence. He became the Chief Justice and later President of the Republic of Ghana.[1]

Early life and education

Akufo-Addo was born on 26 June 1906 at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region to William Martin Addo-Danquah and Theodora Amuafi. Both of his parents were from the southern Ghanaian town of Akropong.[2] He had his basic education at Presbyterian Primary and Middle Schools at Akropong. In 1929, he entered Achimota College, where he won a scholarship to St Peter's College, Oxford, where he studied Mathematics, Politics and Philosophy.[1] He went on to graduate with honors in philosophy and politics in 1933.

Pre-political career

Akufo-Addo was called to the Middle Temple Bar, London, UK, in 1940[3] and returned to what was then the Gold Coast to start a private legal practice a year later in Accra.[1]

Early political career

In 1947, he became a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and was one of the "Big Six" (the others being Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey and William Ofori Atta) detained after disturbances in Accra in 1948.[3] From 1949 to 1950, he was a member of the Gold Coast Legislative Council and the Coussey Constitutional Commission.[1]

Post-independence career

After independence (1962–64), Akufo-Addo was a Supreme Court Judge (One of three Judges who sat on Treason trial involving Tawia Adamafio, Ako Adjei and three others after the Kulungugu bomb attack on President Kwame Nkrumah and for doing so was dismissed with fellow judges for finding some of the accused not guilty.

From 1966 to 1970, he was appointed Chief Justice by the National Liberation Council (NLC) regime, as well as Chairman of the Constitutional Commission (which drafted the 1969 Second Republican Constitution).[3] He was also head of the NLC Political Commission during this same time period.[1]

From 31 August 1970 until his deposition by coup d'état on 13 January 1972, Akufo-Addo was President of Ghana in the Second Republic. Real power rested with the prime minister, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia. On 17 July 1979, Akufo-Addo died of natural causes.[4]

Awards and Honours

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Edward Akufo-Addo". Ghana Web. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. 2 February 2012. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-195-38207-5.
  3. 1 2 3 "Akora Justice Edward Akufo-Addo", Old Achimotan Association.
  4. ↑ "Edward Akufo-Addo", Ghana Nation.

–

Legal offices
Preceded by
J. Sarkodee-Addo		 Chief Justice of Ghana
1966–1970		 Succeeded by
Edmund A.L. Bannerman
Political offices
Preceded by
Nii Amaa Ollennu		 President of Ghana
1970–1972		 Succeeded by
Gen. I. K. Acheampong
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