Edward Akufo-Addo
Edward Akufo-Addo | |
|---|---|
 Akufo-Addo | |
| 5th President of Ghana | |
| In office August 31, 1970 – January 13, 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Dr. K. A. 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 | June 26, 1906 Dodowa, Ghana |
| Died | July 17, 1979 (aged 73) Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality |  Ghanaian |
| Political party | non-partisan |
| Spouse | Mrs. Adeline Y. Akufo-Addo |
| Children | Nana Addo Dankwa |
| Profession | Judge / Lawyer |
| Ceremonial President with executive powers vested in Prime Minister | |
Edward Akufo-Addo (26 June 1906 – 17 July 1979) was a politician and lawyer in Ghana. He was one of the Big Six in the fight for Ghana's independence. He also became the Chief Justice and later President of the Republic of Ghana.
Education
Akufo-Addo was born at Dodowa.[1] He had his basic education at Presbyterian Primary and Middle Schools at Dodowa.[1] In 1929, he entered Achimota College, from where he won a scholarship to St Peter's College, Oxford University, where he studied Mathematics, Politics and Philosophy.[1]
Pre-political career
Akufo-Addo was called to the Middle Temple Bar, London, UK in 1940[1] and returned to what was then the Gold Coast to start a private legal practice a year later.
Early political career
In 1947, he became a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and was one of the "Big Six" detained after disturbances in Accra. From 1949–1950, he was a member of the Gold Coast Legislative Council and the Coussey Constitutional Commission.
Post-independence career
After independence (1962–1964), Akufo-Addo was a Supreme Court Judge (One of three Judges who sat on Treason trial involving Tawiah 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 1966–1970, he was appointed Chief Justice by the National Liberation Council (NLC) regime as well as Chairman of the Constitutional Commission (Commission that drafted the 1969 Second Republican Constitution). He was also head of the NLC Political Commission during this same time period. From August 31, 1970 until his deposition by coup d'etat on January 13, 1972, Akufo-Addo was President of Ghana in the Second Republic. He was a ceremonial President and had no executive powers as all powers lay with the Prime Minister, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia. On July 17, 1979, Akufo-Addo died of natural causes.
References
- ^ a b c d "Leaders of Ghana:Edward Akuffo Addo". Official website for the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations of Ghana. Ghana government. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
See also
External links
| Queen (1957–1960) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| President of the First Republic (1960–1966) | ||
| Military regime (1966–1969) | ||
| President of the Second Republic (1969–1972) | ||
| Military regime (1972–1979) | ||
| President of the Third Republic (1979–1981) | ||
| Military regime (1981–1993) | ||
| President of the Fourth Republic (from 1993) | ||
*Acting President | ||