Minister lauds late CJ Acquah

Accra, March 27, GNA - The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Papa Owusu-Amkomah on Tuesday described the late Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah as an illustrious and eminent jurist, who behaved and served with distinction, high intelligence and good grace" in the different facets of his life.

In a statement in Accra the Minister said the late Mr Justice Acquah had many sterling qualities as a person, a family man, a lawyer, a judge and a distinguished and innovative Chief Justice. Papa Owusu-Ankomah said it was during his tenure as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice that Justice Acquah was nominated as Chief Justice by President John Agyekum Kufuor and confirmed by Parliament.

"I was impressed from the very beginning with his drive to improve the quality of the Judicial Service, and the administration of justice within Ghana. I was also proud to be his collaborator on several epochal matters affecting Ghanaians," he said.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah expressed regret that the CJ died before "the full bloom of his time in office could be appreciated" but expressed the hope that his good works would be his legacy to the nation. Mr Justice Acquah died on Sunday at the 37th Military Hospital, aged 65 years.

Justice Acquah, who was appointed Chief Justice on June 20, 2003, would be remembered for attempting to reconcile Ghana's traditional adjudication laws with the imposed colonial ones.

He was born in Sekondi in the Western Region on March 6, 1942. He attended Adisadel College, Cape Coast, from 1957 to 1963, where he obtained both the Ordinary and Advanced level Certificates of the West African Examinations Council.

Justice Acquah gained admission to the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1964 where he obtained LL.B (Honours). In 1970 he entered the Ghana School of Law where he obtained the professional certificate in Law. He was called to the Bar in 1972.

His employment record includes private legal practitioner from 1972 to 1989; High Court Judge from 1989 to 1994; Appeals Court Judge from 1994 to 1995 and Supreme Court Judge from 1995. He held national and international positions such as Patron, Commonwealth Legal Education Association; London. Justice Acquah left behind a wife and six children.