Isaac Kobina Abban

Isaac Kobina Donkor Abban (* 1933, † April 21, 2001 in Accra ) was Chief Justice of Ghana (chief magistrate ) between 1995 and 2001 He was appointed by then-President Jerry Rawlings of the official successor of Philip Edward Archer and predecessor of Edward. Kwame Wiredu. As Chief Justice he first time in 2001 took the elected President John Agyekum Kufuor the oath of office. Furthermore Abban was Chief Justice in the Seychelles.

Education and Career

Abban studied law and was admitted in April 1959 in the Bar Association. Abban was for the chamber ( Aumog Chambers ) in Cape Coast active in the early sixties. After a successful career as a lawyer Abban was appointed judge in the post.

He rose late seventies to a judge of the High Court. During this activity, he was appointed in 1978 to the Returning Officer ( electoral commissioner ) in the time of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong military junta. In this position, he stepped forward to a referendum, which would have a renewed military rule made ​​possible by Acheampong. This referendum has been submitted by the Supreme Military Council under Achemampong the people in a referendum on 30 March 1978, and should lead to the establishment of a unity government ( Union Government, Unigov ). Acheampong was planning a collaboration between the military, police and civilians to form a government while avoiding party democracy.

The opposition to this referendum as Returning Officer for the upcoming elections of 1979 brought the then High Court Judge Abban into disrepute with the military rulers. Abban left the country in fear for his life. The referendum resulted in Ghana to such a major uprising against the rulers that came to the deposition of Acheampong by Fred Akuffo in June 1979 as part of a palace revolt. Abban went to the Seychelles, where he made also career as a judge. He was appointed as Chief Justice here.

On 22 February 1995 Abban was raised by the former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings in the office of Chief Justice. In the office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Ghana Abban was criticized, as there should be 2,000 new voters' cards with passport photo in the elections of the year. Here, the Supreme Court had ruled under Abban, however, that voters were allowed to participate in the elections, which had not yet this new card.

Death

Abban left after the swearing in of President Kufuor of Ghana to seek medical treatment. He wanted to resign for health reasons, resigned in May 2001, but died on April 21, 2001 in a hospital in Accra from the effects of his illness.