The office of the Chief Justice is the highest-ranking judge of a country’s supreme court. The Chief Justice leads the Supreme Court, and they are the presiding member of a Supreme Court in a country that runs a justice system based on the English common law.
Examples of courts using this system include the Court of Nigeria, Supreme Court of Canada, High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of the United States, and the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The Chief Justice of Ghana heads the judiciary, and they are responsible for the country’s highest court’s administration and supervision. The Chief Justice of Ghana is the fourth highest-ranking official in the country.
The Chief Justice is appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State and must be approved by Parliament. To be a qualified candidate, a person must have been a lawyer for at least 15 years and have high moral character.
Functions Of Chief Justices In Ghana
- Administering the oath of the President and his Vice.
- Administering the oath of allegiance and judicial oath to all justices of the Supreme Court.
- Set up a tribunal to resolve grievances against the Electoral Commission.
Ghana has had 27 Chief Justices since the inception of the Supreme Court in 1876, 13 of which are from the era of the Gold Coast. We will look at the 14 Chief Justices of Ghana since independence.
List of Chief Justices In Ghana
Below is the full list of chief justices in Ghana before and after Independence;
NAMEÂ | PERIOD | |
1 | Sir David Patrick Chambers  | 1876-1878 |
2 | P.A. Smith Esq.    | 1878-1879 |
3 | Sir James Marshall  | 1880-1882 |
4 | N. Lessingham Balley Esq. | 1882-1886 |
5 | H.W. Macleod   | 1886-1889 |
6 | J.T. Hutchinson Esq.    | 188-1895 |
7 | Sir William Brandford Grififith  | 1895-1911 |
8 | Philip Crampton Symly  | 1911-1928 |
9 | Sir George Campbell Deane   | 1929-1935 |
10 | Sir Philip Bertie Petrides | 1936-1943 |
11 | Sir Walter Harrangin | 1943-1947 |
12 | Sir Mark Wilson | 1948-1956 |
13 | Sir Arku Korsah, Esq. | 1956-1963 |
14 | J. Sarkodie-Addo, Esq. | 1964-1966 |
15 | Edward Akuffo Addo   | 1966-1970 |
16 | E.A.L. Bannerman, Esq. | 1970-1972 |
17 | Samuel Azu Crabbe, Esq.  | 1973-1977 |
18 | F.K. Apaloo, Esq. | 1977-1986 |
19 | E.N.P. Sowah, Esq.   | 1986-1990 |
20 | Philip Edward Archer, Esq. | 1991-1995 |
21 | Isaac Kobina Abban, Esq.  | 1995-2001 |
22 | Edward Kwame Wiredu  | 2001-2003 |
23 | George Kingsley Acquah   | 2003-2007 |
24 | Georgina Theodora Wood  | 2007-2017 |
25 | Sophia A. B. Akuffo | 2017- 2020 |
26 | Anin Yeboah | 2020- Date |
List of Chief Justices In Ghana Post Independence
Below is a full list of Chief Justices in Ghana after Ghana gained independence in 1957;
1. Sir Kobina Arku Korsah
He was Ghana’s first Chief Justice after independence. He assumed office from March 6 1957, to December 1963. He was born on April 3 1894, in Saltpond and died on January 25 1967, aged 72.
2. Julius Sarkodee-Adoo
He assumed office from 1964 to 1966. Dr Kwame Nkrumah appointed him. He was born on September 8 1908, and died in January 1972, aged 63.
3. Edward Akuffo Addo
He was a member of the big six and the father of the current President, President Akuffo Addo. He became Chief Justice from 1966 to 1970. He was born on June 26 1906, and died on July 17 1979, aged 73.
4. Edmund Alexander Lanquaye Bannerman
He was Chief Justice between 1970 and 1972. He was removed from office by the National Redemption Council. He was born on July 22 1915, and died on June 27 1983, aged 67.
5. Samuel Azu Crabbe
He was Chief Justice between 1973 and 1977. He was a barrister, solicitor and jurist. He was born on November 18 1918, and died on September 15 2005.
6. Frederick Kwasi Apaloo
He took on the position of Chief Justice from 1977 to 1986. He served as Chief Justice of Kenya from 1993 to 1995. He died on April 2 2000, aged 79.
7. Ernest Nee Pobee Sowah
He was Chief Justice from 1980 to 1990. Jerry John Rawlings appointed him. His date of death is unknown.
8. Philip Edward Archer
He assumed office from 1991 to 1995. Rawlings appointed him and died on May 10 2002, aged 77.
9. Isaac Kobina Abban
He was Chief Justice from February 22 1995, to April 21 2001. Rawlings appointed him. He died on April 21 2001, aged 67.
10. Edward Kwame Wiredu
He was Chief Justice from 2001 to 2003. John Kufuor appointed him. He died in 2008 aged 73.
11. George Kingsley Acquah
He was Chief Justice from 2003 to 2007. He was Chief Justice till his death on March 25 2007, aged 68.
12. Georgina Theodosia Wood
She was the first female Chief Justice and a former police prosecution officer. She was Chief Justice from 2007 to 2017, where she retired. She was born in 1947 and is still living.
13. Sophia Akufo
She assumed office from 2017 to December 10 2019. Akuffo Addo appointed her.
14. Kwasi Anin Yeboah
He is the incumbent Chief Justice. He assumed office on January 7 2020. Akuffo Addo appointed him.
Supreme Court justices in Ghana
The Supreme Court supports gender equality and allows for the appointment of both male and female judges. Who are the 7 Supreme Court justices in Ghana?
- Jones Dotse
- Paul Baffoe
- Yaw Appau
- Gabriel Pwamang
- Samuel K. Marful-Sau
- Agnes M.A Dordzie
- Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher
The position of Chief Justice of Ghana has been occupied by 14 judges ever since Ghana gained its independence in 1957. The different individuals have served various terms.
Some were in the position for two years, while others served for ten years. There has been a gender balance of male and female Chief Justices of Ghana over the years.
Who is the first female Chief Justice of Ghana?
Conclusion
Presented above is the full list of Chief Justices in Ghana.
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