A viral black-and-white video provides a rare glimpse into the daily lives of school children in the Gold Coast during 1948, capturing moments of both joy and dedication in a bygone era.
The footage, brimming with historical significance, showcases school children engaged in various activities on their school compound.
The video begins with scenes of children joyfully playing, their laughter and carefree spirits painting a vivid picture of childhood in a different era.
Despite the absence of modern amenities, the children’s enthusiasm and happiness are palpable, highlighting the timeless essence of youth.
Transitioning to the classroom, the footage reveals a more serious side of school life.
Students, deeply engrossed in their studies, diligently take notes and listen intently to their teacher.
Legal expert and historian, Yaw Anokye Frimpong, has challenged the historical narrative surrounding Gold Coast’s independence struggle, particularly regarding ‘The Big Six’.
During a commemorative lecture organized by Onua TV’s morning show, ‘Maakye‘, on the 52nd memorial of Nkrumah, Frimpong argued that the concept of ‘The Big Six’ is misleading.
He clarified that those referred to as ‘The Big Six’ were members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) who were arrested following the 1948 riots.
Mr Frimpong explained that the phrase originated from the aftermath of the riots, where three ex-service men were shot and killed. After a petition was handed to the governor, it was discovered that the handwriting on the petition was Nkrumah’s, leading to the conclusion that the UGCC had orchestrated the riots.
As a result, Nkrumah and Ebenezer Ako Adjei, who had convinced the ex-service men to demand their ex-gratia, were arrested along with four other UGCC leaders. The media then reported that “the big six leaders of the UGCC” had been arrested, popularizing the term ‘The Big Six’.
Mr Frimpong argued that if there were to be a group referred to as ‘The Big Six’ in Ghana’s independence struggle, it should have included individuals like Paa Grant and Gbedemah, who played more pivotal roles alongside Nkrumah, rather than the UGCC leaders who were arrested due to Nkrumah’s involvement in the riots.
The traditional ‘Big Six’ are Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; Dr. Joseph Boakye (‘J.B.’) Danquah; Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei; William Ofori Atta and Edward Akufo-Addo, all of whom were part of the UGCC before Nkrumah left to form the CPP.
The three ex-servicemen whose shooting sparked the 1948 riots were Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey.
The Gold Coast said it doesn’t want to host the next Commonwealth Games. So, the event will not be in Australia.
The city by the ocean held the 2018 Games, and the mayor, Tom Tate, said it could host them again without anyone else’s agreement.
The federal and state governments and his deputy mayor have said they don’t want to help with the event.
The people in charge said they might need to delay or call off the next part of the Games.
The Commonwealth Games happens every four years and is a big sports event with many different sports. It was only stopped during World War Two. To join, competitors must be from one of the Commonwealth’s 70 nations or territories, which used to be part of the British Empire.
The Commonwealth Games Federation had a hard time finding a place to have the 2026 games. Victoria said they would host, but then changed their mind. Then, the only other place that wanted to host the 2030 games, Alberta, also changed their mind.
No other organizations want to host the 2026 or 2030 Games. Governments say the event is getting more and more expensive, but experts think its importance and how it’s seen worldwide is decreasing.
However, the CGF said it was trying to find a new place to hold the event.
“A spokesperson said that since Victoria withdrew as host of the 2026 Games in July 2023, the Commonwealth Games Federation has been working hard with Commonwealth Games Associations to find a new host who can take over at short notice. ”
“We are talking to many possible hosts in the Commonwealth and plan to give an update on our talks in early 2024. ”
The people who planned the Victorian Games thought it would cost $2. 6 billion, but the government said it would actually cost over $6 billion. The games were held in cities like Geelong, Bendigo, and Ballarat.
Mr Tate suggested that the Gold Coast in Queensland could hold a smaller version of the event for A$700m. He also mentioned the possibility of sharing it with the city of Perth, which is a six-hour flight away in Western Australia.
He says that some rich people and athletes want his plan to happen, but the government do not support it.
“We tried our hardest and that’s all anyone can ask for,” Mr. Tate said in a statement on Sunday.
Australia will be known as a place that broke a global sports contract and damaged its reputation.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) wanted to host the Games in Australia, but the chief executive, Craig Phillips, said he respected Mr. Tate’s choice
Ghanaian historian and economist, Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has refuted the assertion that the Gold Coast was renamed Ghana by Joseph Boakye Danquah also known as JB Danquah, a member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).
In an article titled: ‘Beware, the tribal supremacists: Myths of J.B. Danquah and the Big Six’, Dr Thompson highlighted that the name change was brought up by Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who was criticised by JB Danquah for coming up with such a name.
” Only Nkrumah as prime minister in 1957 was in a position to propose that name, and he did. Danquah and the others criticised Nkrumah for choosing the name Ghana, and in his autobiography Nkrumah was forced to defend his choice,” he said as “by 1957 Danquah’s political career was effectively over (he and Ofori-Atta having lost their seats to the CPP in the 1954 and 1956 elections)”
However, he revealed that JB Danquah made a number of proposals for the name change due to his “weird obsession for naming places” – a characteristic Dr Thompson says President Akufo-Addo possesses.
He noted that JB Danquah without any consultations or whatsoever, proposed that the then Northern Territories be renamed “Fergusonia” in honor of Ekem Ferguson, a surveyor from Anomabo, who is said to have done much work in the North. This, suggestion, JB Danquah said, was shot down by the British.
That was not the only thing the British rejected. According to Dr Nii Thomspon, they also rejected some proposed names to replace the Gold Coast.
JB Danquah, who was married to a Ga lady, is said to have sought to rename Gold Coast by “Akanland” and later “Akan-Ga” after he was reminded that “there were more Gas than Akans in the colony.”
“His most “valiant” name-changing effort was his suggestion after the 1948 riots that he and his relatives be put in charge of the Gold Coast, under the name Ghanaland.
The idea of course was laughed off by the British. He pioneered the tribalism that his inward-looking descendants are now perfecting with national resources. (Remember the president’s statement, “Yen Akanfo” during his desperate struggle to win power – and destroy the country?),” Dr Nii Thompson added.
The revelation by the historian stems from President’s Akufo-Addo’s decision to name the University of Ghana after JB Danquah some day. During the 75th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the University of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo made this known.
He described Joseph Boakye Danquah, as the founder of the university owing to some contributions he reportedly made prior to its formation.
“And for me, the most poignant of those memories is the inestimable work Dr. J. B. Danquah did to mobilize the Ghanaian people to insist on the building of this university. It was the inspired leadership vision of this great scholar and nationalist, who’s described in his lifetime as the doyen of Gold Coast politics, that following the establishment of the Elliot Commission, tasked by the colonial government, to inquire into the possibility of establishing a university in West Africa, enable the Ghanaian people to reject the original decision of the British-colonial government based on the majority recommendation of the Elliot Commission that a single university be established in Ibadan, in Nigeria, for the whole of the then British West Africa, and got it to agree, through a series of passionate interventions in the then legislative council.
“And with the enthusiastic support of the founders of Ghana to the creation of a separate university for our country, on the basis on his minority recommendation. How felicitous was that decision and how greatly it’s contributed to the growth of modern Ghana. It would be wholly-appropriate, and not at all far-fetched, to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah, as the founder of this university. A fact, which on the 75th anniversary of its existence, should be vividly recalled by all of us who have been, and are the beneficiaries of his work.
“Indeed, in many other jurisdictions where there is less heat in their politics, and more attachment to the historical records, it would not have been put of place to have this university named after him. Who knows, one day, it may well happen,” he said.
In 1947, the idea to establish a national bank with central banking functions was conceived in the then Gold Coast, now known as Ghana. Today, that financial institution is none other than GCB Bank, making it arguably the oldest indigenous bank in the country.
The formation of GCB Bank was driven by proposals from prominent politicians in the Gold Coast. Subsequently, in 1949, a select committee of the Legislative Assembly was appointed to investigate the establishment of a national bank with exclusive central banking functions. In 1951, Sir Cecil Trevor was commissioned by the government to examine the possibility of creating a state-owned commercial bank that would finance development projects and act as a reserve bank providing clearing house services.
Following his recommendation, the Bank of the Gold Coast was established in 1952 under the Bank of the Gold Coast Ordinance. It officially commenced operations in 1953 as GCB Bank. Alfred Engleston was appointed to lead the Bank at that time. Initially, the Bank operated in two sections, with one becoming the Bank of Ghana, functioning as a bank of issue and destined to become a complete central bank. The other section was named Ghana Commercial Bank and was intended to evolve into the largest commercial bank with a monopoly on the accounts of public corporations.
GCB Bank started with 27 employees in its first branch, primarily catering to Ghanaian traders, farmers, and business people who faced challenges obtaining financing from expatriate banks at the time.
Soon after Ghana gained independence in March 1957, Alfred Engleston was appointed as the first Governor of the Bank of Ghana. Under his leadership, the Bank of Ghana assumed responsibility for managing the currency and introduced the cedi as the country’s first national currency in July 1958, replacing the old West African currency notes.
In line with Ghana’s independence, the Bank of the Gold Coast was rebranded as Ghana Commercial Bank, taking on the role and functions of government bankers, while assuming financial management of most government departments and public corporations.
While wholly-owned by the Government of Ghana, the shares of the Bank of Ghana were listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 1996 when government shareholding stood at 51.17 percent. Presently, government ownership of Ghana Commercial Bank stands at 21.36 percent, with institutional and individual holdings accounting for 78.64 percent, according to the Bank of Ghana.
Between 2013 and 2014, Ghana Commercial Bank underwent a rebranding exercise, resulting in its current name, GCB Bank Limited. It now serves the banking needs of large corporations, parastatal companies, small and medium enterprises, as well as individuals.
Over the years, GCB Bank has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from a single branch in the 1950s to approximately 150 branches and 11 agencies spread throughout the country.
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital‘s surgical block needs urgent attention due to the building’s unappealing state.
Pictures circulating on social media revealed the facility is deterioating due to failure by management and the Government to pay attention to it.
The facility seems to have not seen any major renovation works for a long time, making it dirty.
Meanwhile, social mediahas chided the ministry of healt and management failure to find ways of bringing back the faciity to suit its current purpose.
In 2021, management handed the block to Katalon Ghana Limited for extensive renovations.
The renovations included restoration of all cracks, removal of deteriorated metals, external painting, replacement of mosquito nets and casting of concrete to shield the first floor from rain.
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, was founded on October 9, 1923, has 2,000 beds instead of its original 200.
Currently ranked as Ghana’s top national referral center, it is the third-largest hospital in Africa.
Under the leadership of Sir Gordon Guggisberg, the then-Gov. of the Gold Coast, Korle Bu, which translates to “the valley of the Korle lagoon,” was established as a general hospital to serve the needs of the indigenous population.
There has been an increase in hospital visits in Korle Bu as a result of population expansion and the effectiveness of hospital-based care.
The government was obligated to establish a task committee in 1953 to investigate the issue and offer recommendations for the hospital’s development because the demand for its services had reached such an all-time high.
The UGMS and five other constituent schools are now subsumed under the College of Health Sciences to train an array of health professionals. All the institutions of the College however, undertake their clinical training and research in the Hospital.
At the moment, the Hospital has 2,000 beds and 17 clinical and diagnostic Departments/Units. It has an average daily attendance of 1,500 patients and about 250 patient admissions.
Clinical and diagnostic departments of the hospital include Medicine, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Laboratories, Radiology, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Polyclinic, Accident Centre and the Surgical/Medical Emergency as well as Pharmacy. Other Departments includes, Pharmacy, Finance, Engineering, General Administration.
The Hospital also provides sophisticated and scientific investigative procedures and specialisation in various fields such as Neuro-surgery, Dentistry, Eye, ENT, Renal, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Dermatology, Cardiothoracic, Radiotherapy, Radio diagnosis, Paediatric Surgery and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns.
The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burn Centre, the National Cardiothoracic Centre and the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine in particular also draw a sizeable number of their clientele from neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Togo.
Ghana’s first doctor and physician, Dr Quartey-Papafio, was discovered when the West African country was referred to as Gold Coast.
He was born in June 1859 to Momo Omedru, a businesswoman, and Chief Quartey-Papafio.
Emmanuel and Arthur Quartey-Papafio, brothers of Benjamin Quartey-Papafio, were traders and farmers. Hugh and Clement W. Quartey-Papafio, who were Emmanuel William Kwate Quartey-offspring, Papafio’s also went on to become lawyers.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Quartey-Papfio attended CMS Grammar School and Fourah Bay College for his education.
He later travelled to Britain and enrolled at the St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College in 1882 to study medicine before relocating to Edinburgh University.
He graduated with a degree M.B and M.Ch. in 1886 and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
He was the first African to receive a medical degree in the Gold Coast.
He returned to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and served as a medical practitioner for the Gold Coast Government Service from 1888 till 1905.
Quartey-Papfio married Eliza Sabina Meyer and had six children with her.
A member of the Accra Town Council from 1909 to 1912, Quartey-Papafio was also a member of the 1911 deputation to London that protested the Forest Bill.
He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council from 1919 to 1924 and a practicing Anglican.
Benjamin Quartey-Papafio died on September 14, 1924.
As we commemorate Ghana’s 66th Independence Anniversary, let us delve into the origins of the name Ghana.
The name “Ghana” has deep historical roots that date back to the powerful Gana Empire that once existed in West Africa. The term “Ghana” was the title given to the kings who ruled the empire, which spanned across present-dayMauritania and Mali.
Muslim historians and researchers who studied the empire have documented that it reached its pinnacle around the year 300 before it experienced a rapid decline and eventually disappeared by the year 1100.
The Sonike residents called the empire “Wagadou,” and its capital was situated in Koumbi Saleh on the edge of the Sahara Desert.
The Kingdom of Wagadou
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast.
They gave it the name “La Mina,” meaning mine, due to its significant gold deposits and as a trading post. Although the name was not legally accepted and widely used until 1471, it eventually became the name used by the European powers.
In 1867, the British took control and established the British Gold Coast colony. After years of fighting for independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah successfully transformed Ghana from the Gold Coast to Ghana after the country gained its freedom in 1957.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (L) and Dr. J.B. Danquah (R)
It is widely believed that the name Ghana was chosen because several of the Gold Coast’s ethnic groups could trace their roots back to those who lived in the Gana Empire.
However, some people dispute this assertion and believe that G.H.A.N.A stands for “God Has Appointed Nkrumah Already” or “for Africa.”
In his speech officially launching the name Ghana, Dr. Nkrumah stated, “We take pride in the name Ghana, not out of romanticism, but as an inspiration for the future.” This illustrates the significance of the name Ghana as it represents the country’s rich cultural heritage and symbolizes a bright future for the people.
The big six
Today, Ghana is known for its diverse cultural history, kente, delicious cuisine, warm hospitality, pioneering citizens, and vast natural resources, including gold, cocoa, diamonds, timber, and more. The country is home to six significant ethnic groups that coexist peacefully, highlighting Ghana’s cultural diversity and inclusivity.
Ghana has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the country’s past. It symbolizes the country’s heritage, resilience, and future aspirations. As we celebrate Ghana’s 66th Independence Anniversary, let us take pride in our country’s name and strive towards building a better future for all Ghanaians.
It is still considered to be one of Ghana’s most historic cities and is well-known for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
Cape Coast, historically known as Carbo Corso (a misspelling of “Corsican Cape”), was the initial capital of theGold Coastand was situated on the Gulf of Guinea coast.
Beginning in the 16th century, numerous European nations established themselves in Cape Coast, using the area as a base of operations and a trading hub for commodities like gold and slaves.
There were the Dutch, Portugese, Swedish and then later the British.
The architectural structure of Cape Coast was one that could be boasted of because these European inhabitants established lodges, forts and other buildings.
Cape Coast served as an important seat of Asante traders, a roadstead port and the British commercial and administrative capital.
The Cape Coast Castle which was built by the Swedish and later taken over by the British in 1663, became the government administrative seat for the Gold Coast Colony.
It also became an educational centre, with some of the first schools including the Philip Quaque Boys’ school being established there.
Cape Coast however lost its position as the first capital of the Gold Coast in 1877 when Accra became the administrative capital of the British colonial government in the Gold Coast.
During their time in Cape Coast, the British Colonial government introduced the window tax. This was a property tax suggested by the British to raise money from the indigenes.
Per the tax, every household head was supposed to pay for the number of windows in their house. It was assumed that any household that has many windows was wealthy and therefore could pay more.
This was however met by stiff opposition by the indigenes who disagreed with the basis for the tax.
After this, they moved away to create a centre of power in Accra. The seat of government was moved from Cape Coast and established in Accra.
Accra became the formal colonial administration with the Christianbourg Castle serving as the seat of government.
Accra became the economic centre of Ghana. Railways were built from Sekondi and Accra inland to Kumasi.
A municipal council was formed subsequently, to improve the town.
Accra developed into a prosperous trading hub; today it serves as the commercial and educational centre of the country.
Accra subsequently was declared a city on 29 June 1961 by Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Accra has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa since the pre-colonial era.
Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, one of Ghana’s finest creative directors and film producers, shares her journey through life on another impactful episode of the Y Leaderboard Series on Y107.9FM.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Film Authority of Ghana, hosted by Rev. Erskine, rolled out her life through childhood, life experiences and some guides to quality filming, among other things, to inspire the younger generation. Reliving her childhood memories, she reflects on how people identified her as a core Ashanti, bearing the prominent name, ‘Yaa Asantewa’.
For most Ghanaians, particularly Ashantis, the name ‘Yaa Asantewa’ brings back memories of the past. In the early days of Gold Coast, she was a brave and revered woman who inspired an entire ethnic group to reclaim victory over their oppressors in the early beginnings of Gold Coast (Ghana).
However, the Founding President of the Black Star International Film Institute, organiser of the Black Star International Film Festival, disclosed she is originally from Akwamu in the Eastern region.
As a young child, she only knew little about the name she carried as her parents moved to Liberia. “Growing up, I didn’t know all that about the legend Yaa Asantewa. Here was I a little girl in Liberia. Everywhere I moved people just knew me as Juliet because of the popular novel Romeo and Juliet.
“I didn’t know much about Yaa Asantewa but everyone in my family only called me Yaa. So it was in later years that I realised a great deal about her. That didn’t come from the impact of the name on me but actually came from appreciating my Africaness and saying to myself that I wish I had moved forward with my African name which really is my soul name because I was born on a Thursday. So that was what drove me to that realisation. I do appreciate the historical figure, especially coming to know that we were born on the same day. I mean that was interesting,” she shared.
She also advised parents to allow their children to chart their course with their guidance. For her, creating expectations only limits the potential of children.
Yaa Asantewa indicated that she has only been able to benefit from such grooming as her parents made room for her to make their own decisions. “I was lucky my parents, my dad especially, gave me the room to make my own decisions. My dad always told me he would support my choices – which he did. He didn’t create expectations for me.”
Although she desired her parents to be more demanding of her and her siblings, they would always choose to offer their guidance to their wards.
Sharing her experiences in film and acting, Yaa Asantewa described creatives as some of the most brilliant professionals in the country. However, they are barely recognised as such.
According to her, the acting profession is one of the most challenging fields in the world, with professionals having to lose themselves playing the roles of other characters. She urged professionals to adopt coping strategies, such as self-care practices and back-up plans to assist them in distinguishing themselves from the personas they play.
“Good actors are able to take care of themselves; that is do lots of self-care, a lot of grounding and you need lots of fall back routines that you can use. You have to go through the work of understanding how to separate that character from your true self. Sometimes, you have to play characters you don’t like, yet you’re supposed to play that character well,” she said.
Yaa Asantewa also admonished filmmakers to build rich and strong characters.
Sharing details of a recent filmmaking workshop she spoke at, the Founding President of the Black Star International Film Institute, stated: “Just a couple of days back, I did a workshop at the Black Star International Film Festival where I spoke to these young filmmakers on building characters that have depth”.
She asserts that contemporary filmmakers do not typically use rich characters, and depth cannot be attained if a director does not comprehend fundamental concepts like character business and character creation through non-dialogue.
She suggested that character development should follow the five-second rule.
Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante further hinted that festivals are perfect grounds for content and inspiration for filmmakers. She advised filmmakers to make it a point to attend various festivals in Ghana. According to her, a lot of the things she’s currently pursuing, especially the major ones, all came out of festivals she attended.
Programmes Manager of YFM, Eddy Blay, expressed after the interview that the time with Yaa Asantewa Asante has been one of the most insightful sessions on the radio. “Every youth who aspires to be creative and listened to Yaa Asantewa today will definitely have a different approach to life as a Ghanaian. It is a great feeling to have accomplished personalities speak to the youth from the heart.”
Aaron Finch starred after being selected to bat at number four as Australia secured victory against West Indies with one ball to spare to take a 1-0 lead in their two-match T20I series.
The tourists set their opponents a total of 145-9 on the Gold Coast and Australia looked a long way from reaching that when languishing on 58-5 in just the eighth over.
But Finch (58) and Matthew Wade (39 not out) put Australia back on top and they clinched a three-wicket victory after the latter was dropped twice in the final over.
Kyle Mayers earlier top-scored for West Indies with 39, while Odean Smith chipped in at the end with 27 from 17 balls, but a lack of runs in the middle overs ultimately cost them.
Josh Hazlewood (3-35) ensured Australia had a reachable target to aim for, but David Warner and Cameron Green went for 14 either side of Mitch Marsh (3).
That slow start continued until Finch and Wade combined for a 69-run stand. Finch was caught by Jason Holder, leaving Australia requiring 19 from the final 2.5 overs.
Losing Pat Cummins (4) piled the pressure on the hosts, but Wade was twice let off and, with two runs needed from the final two balls, managed to get his side over the line.
Home skipper Finch has struggled with the bat of late and took on an unfamiliar role in the middle order as Australia experimented ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
He did his confidence no harm as he was the only batter to pass 50 and is now just 27 runs away from becoming the first Australian to score 3,000 runs in men’s T20I history.
Hazlewood halts West Indies
Hazlewood claimed three wickets to become the third Australia player to take 50 in the format after Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc.
That set the hosts on their way to a third victory in four T20Is against the Windies, with this making it back-to-back wins for the first time since March 2012.
Australia captain Aaron Finch declared his side will continue “tinkering” until the start of the T20 World Cup after starring in a three-wicket win over West Indies on Wednesday.
The Windies set a total of 145-9 before reducing Australia to 58-5 within eight overs on the Gold Coast, but Finch (58) and Matthew Wade (39 not out) led the hosts’ successful recovery.
Taking an unfamiliar role at number four in the batting order, Finch moved to within 27 runs of becoming the first Australia batsman to score 3,000 runs in T20I history.
The world champions have experimented with their line-up in recent outings, including when Cameron Green opened during last month’s tour of India, and Finch expects that to continue.
“Both teams were sloppy if they are honest with themselves,” he said. “But it’s good to get across the line.
Matty Wade came up clutch at the death for us again!
A wonderful start to the Dettol T20I Series as our boys grabbed a three-wicket win over the West Indies #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/IoEaeHGitg
“We knew that total would be a challenge on that wicket, we did really well early and they took wickets in the middle.
“It would have been nice to get us over the line, I was trying to target the boundary but mishit one. I didn’t like getting the first one in the head, but I really enjoy batting in the middle order.
“It was just something different, we might change it up in the next match. We are going to keep tinkering with things until we get to the World Cup.”
Australia will begin their defence of the World Cup against New Zealand on October 22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
From the era where crime was tried by the Queen’s Judicial Officers in conjunction with chiefs, to the establishment of the Supreme Court of the Queen’s forts and settlements on Gold Coast and then the establishment of the various courts; Superior and lower, leadership has been a vital part of the law and its implementation.
The Chief Justice position was established as part of the law system to serve as the chair of specific courts depending on the various eras.
In 1876 for instance, under the Supreme Court Ordinance, the Supreme Court of Judicature for the Gold Coast was constituted of the Chief Justice and not more than four Puisne Judges.
On May 5, 1954, a Judicial Service Commission was set up under the Gold Coast (Constitution) Order in Council which consisted of the Chief Justice and two other judges, the Attorney General and Chairman of the Public Services Commission.
A year before independence, the first Ghanaian Chief Justice was selected; Sir Arku Korsah and a year after, the Supreme Court was divided into High Court and the Court of Appeal under the Court (Amendment) Ordinance 1957 (Number 17 S.2).
However, it wasn’t until September, 1979, under the Third Republic that the Chief Justice was given the highest judicial power.
Since 1957, after the administration of Sir Arku Korsah as Chief Justice, there have been 13 other Chief Justices who have served as heads of the Judicial Service.
Here are all the Chief Justices who have headed Ghana’s Judicial Service since independence with brief profile information from graphic.com:
Sir Arku Korsah – 1956 – 1963:
Sir Korsah was born in Saltpond and educated at Mfantsipim School, Fourah Bay College (BA degree in 1915), Durham University and London University (LLB in 1919).
In 1942, Nana Sir Ofori Atta and Sir Korsah were the first two Ghanaians to be appointed to the Legislative Council by the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Alan Burns.
Sir Korsah was one of the 20 founder members of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1959.
After the Kulungugu attack on President Kwame Nkrumah in August 1962, Sir Korsah presided over the trial of five defendants. At the end of that trial, three of the accused persons were found not guilty and this displeased the Nkrumah government. Nkrumah dismissed Sir Korsah as Chief Justice in December 1963.
J. Sarkodee-Addo, Esq – 1964 – 1966:
Justice Julius Sarkodee-Addo was the second Chief Justice of Ghana during the First Republic.
He studied Law at King’s College in London, was admitted to Inner Temple in 1928 and was called to the Bar in 1932. He replaced the first native Ghanaian Chief Justice, Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, in 1964.
He was removed after the coup d’état of February 24, 1966, by the National Liberation Council (NLC) government which was formed after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah. This coup also marked the end of the First Republic.
Justice Sarkodee-Addo passed on in January 1972 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Edward Akufo-Addo, Esq – 1966 – 1970:
Justice Edward Akufo-Addo was a member of the “Big Six,” leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). He became the Chief Justice and later President of the Republic of Ghana during the second Republic under a Westminster system of government, which had a Prime Minister.
After independence, Justice Akufo-Addo was a Supreme Court Judge and one of the three judges who sat on the treason trial involving Tawia Adamafio, Ako Adjei and three others after the Kulungugu bomb attack on President Kwame Nkrumah. He was dismissed with fellow judges for finding some of the accused persons not guilty.
From 1966 to 1970, he was appointed Chief Justice by the National Liberation Council (NLC) regime. He also chaired the Constitutional Commission which drafted the Second Republican Constitution of 1969.
E.A.L. Bannerman, Esq – 1970 – 1972:
Justice Edmund Alexander Lanquaye Bannerman was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 1970 and 1972. He was removed from office by the National Redemption Council (NRC) after the coup of January 13, 1972. That coup ended the Second Republic of Ghana.
Samuel Azu Crabbe, Esq – 1973 – 1977.
Justice Samuel Azu Crabbe was the fifth Chief Justice of Ghana since it became an independent nation. He was also a president of the National Olympics Committee of Ghana.
Justice Crabbe was born at James Town, a suburb of Accra, and completed his secondary education at Accra Academy in 1939.
He then proceeded to the University College of London, where he graduated with a law degree in 1946. He was called to the English Bar in 1948. While a student, he was quite active in sports and was the captain of a variety of junior and university football, hockey and cricket teams.
Justice Crabbe was later appointed Chairman of the Special Investigation Board (SIB), which was tasked to investigate the June 30, 1982 murder of three judges and an army officer. Their work led to the recommendation that 10 persons be prosecuted.
F.K.Apaloo,Esq – 1977 – 1986:
Justice Frederick Kwasi Apaloo served as Chief Justice of Ghana and later Kenya. He was appointed Ghana’s Chief Justice in 1977, being the sixth person to hold this position since independence.
Justice Apaloo was called to the English Bar in 1950 by the Middle Temple. He later returned to practise law in Ghana. He defended those involved in the Anloga riots following widespread protests against the imposition of taxes by the British colonial administration. This was during the era of the military junta by the Supreme Military Council (SMC).
On resumption of democratic rule under President Hilla Limann in September 1979, the People’s National Party (PNP) government attempted to replace him as incumbent Chief Justice by insisting that he should be vetted for the office he already occupied. A Ghanaian citizen, Amoako Tuffuor, took the issue to the Supreme Court and the presiding judge, Justice E. N. P. Sowah, who succeeded him on his (Apaloo’s) retirement, ruled that Apaloo became Chief Justice in the Third Republic as soon as the 1979 constitution came into force.
He served through the Third Republic and continued after the overthrow of the Limann government on December 31, 1981. Due to his independence, the new military government, the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), led by Jerry John Rawlings, also tried unsuccessfully to remove him in 1983. He retired at the age of 65 years in 1986.
Kenya had a vacancy for Chief Justice in 1993, since there was no obvious candidate to fill it, Justice Apaloo was appointed as Chief Justice of Kenya in March 1993 until 1995 when he was replaced by Mr Justice Abdul Majid Cockar.
E.N.P. Sowah, Esq – 1986 – 1990:
Justice E. N. P. Sowah was the Chief Justice of Ghana from 1986 to 1990. He presided over the case brought by Amoako Tuffuor, a Ghanaian citizen, when the PNP government of Dr Hilla Limann attempted to replace Justice Fred Kwasi Apaloo as the Chief Justice of Ghana by vetting him. He ruled in favour of Apaloo to remain the incumbent Chief Justice.
He went on to succeed Apaloo in 1986 and was retained by the PNDC as the Chief Justice beyond the compulsory retirement age, a controversial move at the time.
Philip Edward Archer, Esq – 1991 – 1995:
Justice Philip Edward Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 1991 and 1995. He was the eighth person to hold this position after independence. He was educated at St Peter’s School in Sekondi, Adisadel College, Cape Coast, and the University of Nottingham in England.
Admitted a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1957, he returned to Ghana and joined the office of the Registrar-General. He was appointed Registrar-General in 1959 and Judicial Secretary in 1961. He became a High Court Judge in 1964 and a Supreme Court Judge in 1980.
He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University of Cape Coast Council from 1979 to 1983.
On his retiring as a judge in 1983, he was appointed full-time Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
Justice Archer became a Member of the Council of State in 1995. In 2000, he was honoured with the Order of the Star of Ghana.
Isaac Kobina Abban, Esq – 1995 – 2001:
Mr Justice Isaac Kobina Donkor Abban was the ninth Chief Justice of Ghana. He was in office between 1995 and 2001.
Edward Kwame Wiredu, Esq – 2001 – 2003:
Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu became the Chief Justice between 2001 and 2003, the 10th since independence. He is noted for introducing the Fast Track High Courts in Ghana, as well as Alternate Dispute Resolution and the Judicial Training Institute (JTI).
George Kingsley Acquah, Esq – 2003 – 2007.
Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah was appointed Chief Justice on July 4, 2003 but died in office on March 25, 2007.
Mr Justice Acquah, the 23rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the 11th since independence, was in private legal practice in Cape Coast from 1972 until September 19, 1989, when he became a High Court Judge. He worked in Ho in the Volta Region. He became an Appeals Court Judge in June 1994 and then a Supreme Court Judge a year later.
He was awarded the Order of the Star of Ghana (Member) – the highest honour of Ghana – in June 2006.
Georgina Theodora Woode (Mrs) – 2007 – 2017:
Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood was appointed to the Supreme Court on November 12, 2002.
In May 2007, she was nominated for the position of Chief Justice of Ghana. On June 1, 2007, Parliament approved her nomination as the Chief Justice by consensus. This made her the first woman in the history of the country to head the Judiciary and also made her at the time the highest-ranked female in Ghana’s political history. She officially assumed office on June 15, 2007.
She swore in three Presidents: the late President John Evans Atta-Mills in January 2009; then Vice-President John Dramani Mahama upon the death of the President on July 24, 2012, and President-elect Mahama, winner of the December 2012 general election on January 7, 2013.
She retired on June 8, 2017, after 40 years of dedicated service to the country.
In accordance with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution, Justice Wood has since been appointed as a Member of the Council of State. She is the only surviving former Chief Justice.
Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo – 2017 – 2019:
Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo was on Monday, June 19, 2017, sworn into office as the 13th Chief Justice of the country by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Justice Akuffo has been a Judge of the Supreme Court for two decades.
She obtained her Master’s in Law (LLM) from Havard University in the United States and cut her teeth as a lawyer under Nana Akufo-Addo.
She has been a member of the Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force.
In January 2006 she was elected as one of the first judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where she once served as its vice-president.
Kwasi Anin Yeboah – 2020 to date:
Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah was born on May 1953 at Toase in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
He attended Amaniampong Secondary School and Apam Secondary School and then moved to the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law where he graduated in 1981.
After graduating from law school he served as an Assistant State Attorney at the Attorney General Office Koforidua. He proceeded to work as a partner at Afisem chambers at its koforidua Branch.
He was later elected as the Eastern Regional Bar President. He served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal (2003-2008) and the High Court (2002-2003) in Ghana.
Justice Anin Yeboah has also provided his legal experience to football in his country, serving as Chairman of the Appeal Committee at the Ghana Football Association from 2004 to 2008.
He rose to become a member of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA and he was subsequently in May 2017, appointed as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the 67th FIFA Congress in Bahrain and was also Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee.
At the turn of the 20th century, Keta was the 3rd largest and most important town in Gold Coast after Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi.
Keta was the administrative head of the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast colony, a centre of excellence, an international commercial hub, a port city, an educational centre of repute, and major centre for the missionary churches.
It is of note that the first diocese of the Catholic Church in the Gold Coast was in Keta. Indeed, Keta was a town in its own class, a great pride of Anlo land.
Geographically, Keta is a town nestled between the sea (the Atlantic Ocean) and the lagoon (the Keta Lagoon Complex). It was/is a narrow steip/sanbar between the lagoon and the sea. But the beautiful town has a geographic and well as geomorphological disadvantage: it has a sandy coast and lies below see level along most portions of its coast, between 1-3 metres below sea level. This is Keta’s weak point that did not help her much as the decades went by.
Surfacecially, Keta is often used to cover all the other settlements which border it with their own individual names, such as Vodza-Adzido, Kedzi, Abutsiakope, Dzelukope, etc. And so shall it be construed in this write up.
From around 1907, the first noticeable signs of sea erosion started showing. By 1924, it accentuated. From 1932 to the 1978, it became clear that Keta may not survive into the 21st century. The 1960s witnessed the construction of the first sea defence system in Keta under the CPP regime.
In early 1980s the sea unleashed its renewed onslaught on Keta. It was now very apparent that if nothing was done, then, the whole town of Keta would be obliterated from the map of Ghana. There was, therefore, the need to call on central government again to do something to save Keta.
The response was heeded to. Government commissioned an Italian firm to design a comprehensive engineering and economic plan to save Keta’s remaining land, reclaim additional land and regenerate its lost economic vibrancy. In June 1987, Cooperativa Muratori and Cementisti, the Italian firm which undertook the study and design works, submitted its report to central government. The report was comprehensive. It had an infrastructural component and a socio-economic component. It was an integrated project, according to the report.
But hope came alive, when we entered into the democratic dispensation. In 1996 Parliament approved a facility for the project. So, the United States’ Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) approved an $84 million long-term loan to enable Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, located in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA and their partners, Bird Associates and their local representatives Messrs Pentrexx Limited to build a sea wall and other infrastructure to protect the Keta Beach and Lagoon from erosion and also resuscitate the almost dead socio-economic life of the area.
The project, which was announced in a February 16, 1999 news release, would have far reaching positive impacts on agriculture, fisheries, commerce, coastal infrastructure and living conditions of the inhabitants of Keta and its surrounding areas. The area under consideration receive the most devastating sea erosional attacks in the history of the country and regular flooding of farms from the lagoon and the Volta River.
This therefore, necessitated the most urgent political action to save the remaining portion of Keta, once a thriving and vibrant commercial hub in colonial Gold Coast and securing the socio-economic livelihoods of the whole Keta Lagoon Basin. The Keta Basin Integrated Development Project was thus born.
Keta Sea Defence Project (KSDP), as designed, was supposed to be a part of the Keta Basin Integrated Developmemt Project (KBIDP), a physical, infrastructural, social and economic rehabilitation or regeneration project.The Project as finally executed, was/is therefore, a good physical infrastructural project BUT a bad socio-economic investment, as the latter aspects were left out. My reasons for saying so are not far-fetched:
One, the original project involved sea defence groynes, flood control, access road, land reclamation for housing and agricultural development, aquaculture industry, fishing harbour, chemical industry and tourism facilities. Two, other aspect that was supposed to be the phase 2 of the project was the supposed beach nourishment between Keta and Abutiakope area, and the reclamation of about 400 hectares of land on the lagoon side from around Keta Anlo State School area to Vui Torkor Area was not done too.
The KSDP which was supposed to be the panacea to Keta’s socio-economic problems brought on her by the constant sea erosion for over 90 years (from 1907 till 1999) failed to achieve the other purposes. If the KBIDP were executed as originally designed, it would have made Keta great again: industrial salt mining, chemical industries, aquaculture, agriculture development, tourism, water transport, fishing harbour, housing, etc. KSDP is therefore a good project but a bad investment, an investment without much socio-economic returns.
This has made Keta to remain poor 18 years after its completion. The people of Keta District which included current Anloga District then and beyond got the KSDP as against KBIDP. This single political mistake or negligence has cost the people of Keta an economic misfortune of a lifetime. The big question is: Na Who Cause Am?
In the end, the $84 million sunk into the KSDP between 1999 and 2004 served only to protect the remaining portion of an eroded town but miserably failed to resuscitate, regenerate and rehabilitate the socio-economic life of once a thriving and economically vibrant district.
Indeed, after the completion of the project, what was given to Keta District was an 8.3 km of causeway between Havedzi and Keta, a flood control bridge at Kedzi, six groynes/armor block walls between Hlorvi and Keta, a coastal revetment around the Fort Prinzenstein area, about 108 hactares of reclaimed land between Kedzi and Keta, a construction site building at Havedzi, a staff quarters at Weta, an 8.3-km long, eight-metre wide and sixteen-metre deep dredged trench/canal inside the lagoon.
Folks, eighteen good years after the completion of the project, Keta is yet to reap the socio-economic benefits of a capital project. The big and hard questions we must always ask are: why were the phase 2 and the socio-economic component of KBIDP not done as part of the project? Were political, local and community leaders aware of this? Were Keta denizens aware? Who is to answer? Who is to be blamed? Hard questions indeed.
It is not too late to remedy the negligence. Urgent steps must be taken Keta, in association with the planned Keta Port or Harbour, to incorporate those aspects of the KBIDP which have been shelved. If this is not done, the port when constructed will not benefit very much the mass of the people in the Keta Basin. The port was envisaged as only a part of the KBIDP.
Source: Ghanaweb
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
The advent of Christianity and missionary work in the days of slavery and colonialism was clearly seen in theGold Coast era.
While the British merchantsand rulers established their presence at the Cape Coast castle and other forts, missionary work was in full force and Philip Quaque, a son of the land became a leading force in the Anglican Church who was later ordained as the first African priest of the church.
According to the Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation, Quaque, was born in 1741 at Cape Coast and grew up to become one of three Fante children taken to England to further their education and study missionary work.
This was made possible through a missionary group called the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) in 1754.
The SPG under the Anglican missionaries quickly began to expand their efforts in the Gold Coast in a bid to recruit African missionaries.
Through the help of family connections, the group chose to send the young Quaque and two others to England for school to study religious and missionary work.
The two others were Thomas Cobbers, William Cudjoe who later died in 1758 and 1766 respectively. With Philip faring better than the others, he was later baptized at St Mary’s Church, Islington on January 7, 1759.
Before he was ordained as a minister in the Church of England, Philip was first known as Kweku Quaicoe, a name he later changed when he arrived in England.
During his time in London, he studied Theology which later earned him the chance to be ordained as a minister of the Church of England in 1976 and also became the first African to attain the feat.
That same year, Philip Quaque married Catherine Blunt, an English woman. The couple following the wedding ceremony returned back to Cape Coast the following year in 1977.
Upon arrival, the Royal African Company employed Philip Quaque to serve as the chaplain at Cape Coast Castle. At his residence, he set up a small school focused on training Mulatto children who were growing in large numbers at the time.
Shortly after arriving, he was faced with a rather deeper problem as he could not speak his native language of Fante as he was taken away to England at a very tender age.
This made it difficult for him to communicate and connect with the natives of the land. Sadly, within a year another problem was posed to him as his wife, Catherine Blunt passed away at Cape Coast.
Determined to continue his missionary work, Quaque re-married twice but this time to African women and in 1784, he was able to send his two children to study in England.
During his time as a chaplain at Cape Coast, he become famous for his African heritage and English training which helped him to navigate the cultural, religious and racial divide which is still very evident for many clergymen to date.
He is often remembered for his influence on Christian missions and schools established in the then Gold Coast. He helped many Anglican officials, people of African descent, common people and many others in diverse ways.
At the time, he faced a number of setbacks out of which he wrote many letters to the SPG for support but received only three out of five responses in return.
He was often times not compensated by either the SPG or the merchant group that ran Cape Coast castle, forcing him to barter trade in the local marketplace for food and supplies.
While gaining popularity among the natives, the SPG and merchant groups that ran Cape Coast began accusing him of requesting remuneration with little focus on his missionary work.
But this did not deter him as he become known for training a large generation of students who later rose to prominence in the then Gold Coast.
Quaque is however associated with the promotion of the Anglican faith in the Gold Goast era which has now grown in many parts of the country.
On October 17, 1816, Phillip Quaque passed away and was buried at the Cape Coast Castle. Through the years, Philip Quaque’s Day is celebrated at the Cape Coast Castle in remembrance of his works.
Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management and Menzgold have accused President Akufo-Addo of sidelining them in the payment of locked up investment.
President Akufo-Addo during his final State of the Nation Address yesterday announced that all locked up investments of customers of the financial sector cleanup will be paid.
The President further revealed that payments up to GH¢5 billion are to begin on Monday, February 24, 2020.
But speaking to Starr FM today, the spokesperson for the Gold Coast Fund Management, Charles Nyame said they are demanding an explanation from the government on what the silence means for payment.
”Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President and the Finance Minister have sidelined we the customers under Gold Coast Fund Management. What they are trying to say is that they will pay customers who falls under Bank of Ghana, not those who fall under Securities and Exchanges Commission, We want the President to come out clear to tell us the reason why he thinks that as a result of his own initiative which is the financial sector cleanup exercise, we have all resulted into this mess and he thinks that those who are under Bank of Ghana can be satisfied to the detriment to those of us who are under SEC. The government should come out and tell us the reason why the think its right to do so and moving forward we are not going to rest, we are going to fight for our rights.”
On the other hand, the leader of the Coalition of Customers of Menzgold, Fred Forson said they will continue to persist until their locked up funds are retrieved. Adding they are already preparing a demonstration in Kumasi.
”I am so disappointed because we have sent a petition to the President and if there was going to be an intervention the customers of Menzgold will be included but not even the mention of Menzgold customers in the State of the Nation Address. We are been discriminated and as for our money, we will take it. We will be going to Kumasi on March 6 to continue our protest”.
General Manager in charge of Investor relations Benjamin Kofi Afreh in an interview with Joy FM said, “In every sphere of life they are people who are considered vulnerable to what we are doing is to make a very conscious effort to raise money to pay at least those with some smaller amounts, someone may have like 1,000 you may not recognise it but it is their life their different categories but for the start we want to make sure that those smaller amounts we are able to take care of them..”
Gold Coast Fund Management engages SEC over liquidity issues
Gold Coast Fund Management (GCFM) has welcomed confirmation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it is seriously engaging with the company to find a lasting solution to the liquidity crisis it is facing.
The Commission has revealed it has received and started reviewing proposals from GCFM, the biggest fund manager, on how the company hopes to meet payment obligations to its customers and investors.
The news came via a statement released by the SEC which said, “The Commission is presently reviewing the viability and soundness of the proposals and wishes to assure all interested parties that it is doing so only in the interest of investor protection.â€
Gold Coast Fund Management has expressed optimism that the approval of its proposal would give their clients real value for their investment and provide a roadmap for other struggling fund management companies seeking solutions to their liquidity challenges.
General Manager, External Affairs and Investor Relations, Benjamin Afreh in an interview with Citi FM on April 16 said, “We submitted Cardinal Offer as an investment option to our Structured Finance Product. We believe the Cardinal Offer will give our customers real value for their investment while helping to mitigate our liquidity challenges.â€
