Isaac Kobina Abban
Encyclopedia
Isaac Kobina Donkor Abban (born 1933) was the Chief Justice of Ghana
between 1995 and 2001. He was the ninth person to hold this position since Ghana became an independent nation.
(SMC) era. At a point during the referendum, he went into hiding in fear of his life from the military authorities. This was because he opposed the attempts to rig the UNIGOV referendum by the military SMC government. He also supervised the 1979 presidential elections
that elected Dr Hilla Limann
president of the third republic of Ghana.
where he worked as the Chief Justice. On his return to Ghana, he rejoined the Judicial Service of Ghana
. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ghana
and later on 22 February 1995, he was made the Chief Justice by the President, Jerry Rawlings
.
, Ghana at the age of 67.
Chief Justice of Ghana
The Chief Justice of Ghana is the highest judge of the Supreme Court of Ghana. The Chief Justice is also the head of the Judiciary of Ghana and is responsible for its administration and supervision...
between 1995 and 2001. He was the ninth person to hold this position since Ghana became an independent nation.
Electoral Commissioner
Justice Abban was called to the bar on 18 April 1959. While a High Court Judge, he was appointed the electoral commissioner and supervised the controversial 'Union Government (UNIGOV)' referendum on 30 March 1978 during the Supreme Military CouncilSupreme Military Council, Ghana
The Supreme Military Council was the ruling government of Ghana from October 9, 1975 to June 4, 1979. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.- SMC I and II :...
(SMC) era. At a point during the referendum, he went into hiding in fear of his life from the military authorities. This was because he opposed the attempts to rig the UNIGOV referendum by the military SMC government. He also supervised the 1979 presidential elections
Ghanaian presidential election, 1979
Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 18 June 1979 , with a second round on 9 July 1979. The result was a victory for Hilla Limann of the People's National Party, who won 62.0% of the votes in the second round....
that elected Dr Hilla Limann
Hilla Limann
Hilla Limann was the President of Ghana from 24 September, 1979 to 31 December, 1981. Eventually he became a diplomat, and served in Switzerland. Limann, whose original last name was Babini, was born in the northern Ghanaian town of Gwolu in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region to a...
president of the third republic of Ghana.
Chief Justice
He left for SeychellesSeychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
where he worked as the Chief Justice. On his return to Ghana, he rejoined the Judicial Service of Ghana
Judiciary of Ghana
The Judiciary of Ghana comprises the Superior Courts of Judicature, established under the 1992 Constitution, and the Inferior Courts, established by Parliament. The hierarchy of courts derives largely from British juridical forms...
. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ghana
Supreme Court of Ghana
The Supreme Court of Ghana is the highest judicial body in Ghana. Ghana's 1992 constitution guarantees the independence and separation of the Judiciary from the Legislative and the Executive arms of government.-History:...
and later on 22 February 1995, he was made the Chief Justice by the President, Jerry Rawlings
Jerry Rawlings
Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...
.
Death
Justice Abban was due to retire on 1 May 2001, for health reasons. He died a few days before that on 21 April 2001 in AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Ghana at the age of 67.