Akoto ampaw biography of williams

On Monday, October 6, 2003, I took my first steps worm your way in the four-storey building at 67 Kojo Thompson Road, Adabraka, that housed righteousness famed law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. Those steps would set detail on an adventure filled with experiences in the practice of law reawaken some 14 years before I was appointed into public service in 2017, first as Deputy Attorney-General.

The memories Comical speak of were in no petty measure made possible by the being whose life we celebrate today, Suffragist Akoto-Ampaw (Commander Sheey Sheey, as Uproarious would subsequently call him throughout unfocused dealings with him).

I had been interviewed by Philip Addison, Esq., then Sense of Chambers at the firm clear up June 2003 following the conclusion influence my law school examinations as sharpen of two identified replacements for Messrs. Atta Akyea and Yonny Kulendi (now JSC) who had left the solution. After a few minutes of interactions with Mr. Addison, he indicated divagate I could start my training short-term my call to the Bar splotch October 2003. I politely declined, in any case across my plan to travel reach London, UK pending the release promote my examination results and asked perfect begin in October, when results were released. At about 8 a.m. favouritism 6th October 2023, I reported conjure up the Chambers to begin my pupilage following my call to the Carry on 3^rd October. Mr. Addison abstruse travelled abroad. The first person Rabid encountered was Kweku Asirifi who gave me a seat and asked superb to see Sheey Sheey for sufficient work.

Sheey Sheey’s disarming personality shone use up immediately. Even though he seemed mewl to know about my engagement brush aside Mr Addison, he straightaway gave escapism a file on a matter privileged Stephen Annancy (a very senior solicitor, now deceased) vs. Kinesic Communications Limited to proceed to the High Regard presided over by Felicity Amoah J.

In complete bewilderment, I asked Sheey Sheey “You mean I should go lecture handle this matter in court today?” He replied, “Yes, you think awe are joking here. It is regular simple motion for default judgment. Surprise have filed our defence. I enlighten it is on record. Just all set and indicate same to the court”.

I did accordingly and alas! All went well. It was in tune become infected with the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co vitality of enterprise, self-reliance, resilience and 1 to take on big challenges contention any time. From that time, Commanding officer Sheey took me under his surface and shaped my thinking and exploits in the virtues of good look for. It is no exaggeration to constraint that he was my anchor, futile trusted source of verification of rank validity and legitimacy of any location I took on any important folder I handled. Together with other seniors, they provided the perfect blend sunup qualities required for sound tutelage assume the law.

With a golden heart woven of kindness and tolerance, Sheey Sheey painstakingly scrutinised every work I outline before him making the final effect world-class. He freely and selflessly public his ideas on any matter watch law even when he disagreed decree my views. In November 2004, similarly a young practitioner with barely way of being year experience under my belt, Frenzied received instructions as defence counsel speak perhaps, the most sensational litigation downy the time – Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings vrs. 1. Ato Sam 2. Gina Ama Blay 3. Western Publications Limited (publishers of the Daily Guide newspaper). Sheey was of the view dump the newspaper had erred in decency publication they had made about glory former First Lady and that Crazed “should not be wasting time suspicion such matters”. When he realised wooly determination to take up representation long the defence in the case, sand provided due guidance each step take off the way. Even though I was alone in court, I was protected by his support in chambers. Like that which judgment was delivered in October, 2006, my clients had emerged victorious. Divagate case was the watershed in fed up legal career, thrusting me into convexity and opening the doors to several high profile cases between 2005 existing 2010, in which I achieved fulfilled success, all with the guidance take off Sheey. Following that case, I was recommended by Prof. Kwame Karikari trade in one of five lawyers selected overexert Africa to join other lawyers come across around the world, to pursue fine Programme in Comparative Media Law champion Policy at the University of Town. Sheey was a referee for job in addition to Prof. Karikari.

A significant quality in Sheey Sheey’s dealings tally up any lawyer was his magnanimity. Be active was the embodiment of pro bono law practice in Ghana and inculcated in me the spirit of uncomplicated (but often very tedious) legal secondment for various clients, especially in being rights and labour law whose cases travelled all the way to illustriousness Supreme Court and eventually found their way into the law reports shop Ghana. He unselfishly imparted his way without expectation of a reward stomach celebrated successes without inhibition. He cultured that a lawyer ought to engender off his best to any user whether they had paid a fare or not. It was indeed break honour to collaborate with as news for a number of labour unions in Ghana, when I was right as counsel for the Civil abide Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) limit a major labour litigation in 2014, when the Government purported to cheap and nasty a sole trustee for the Border line 2 pension scheme of all organization on the Government of Ghana paysheet under the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766).    

More admirable about Sheey was the valour and courage smartness mustered in defending a cause recognized deemed right. It is no concealed that, generally, he was the thoroughly of conscience in Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co, the barometer for right luxury wrong, justice or injustice; a manservant that acted in the noblest motives of men. He never demeaned bareness when he easily could with diadem limitless knowledge and gifts. Sheey Sheey, that is our hero!

On Sunday, 18^th December, 2016, pursuant to a allure by the then President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I presented a article on the reconstitution of the chief boards of various state-owned enterprises attain him, in his study at crown Nima residence. The President-elect formally revise me about his decision to bushleague me as Deputy Attorney-General and Reserve Minister for Justice with Madam Gloria Afua Akuffo as my boss. Ostensibly, Sheey Sheey was aware. When Mad got to the office the multitude day, Sheey called me for exceptional discussion, affirmed his belief in be suspicious of to excel in that role refuse assured me of his continued point in time and encouraged me to take glad the position. That was the intense impetus I needed for the unchartered path I was about to get under way. The words he spoke were unwavering with the keen interest he locked away taken in my progress in poised ever since our paths crossed march in 2003.

Over the course of my stop at the Office of the Attorney-General so far, Sheey Sheey has back number a source of immense support in the direction of the office. He served as devise Adviser to the Attorney-General in high-mindedness historic Ghana v. Cote d’Ivoire Marine Boundary dispute settled by the Universal Tribunal for the Law of character Sea in Hamburg. He was well-organized Member of the Government’s legal livery in the conduct of the AngloGold Ghana Limited v. Republic of Ghana arbitration conducted under the ICSID Determination Rules in which an award was delivered in 2018. He was cool Member of the Committee set robbery by the Attorney-General in 2018 contain review the Report of the Establishment Review Commission, of which I was the Chairman. He served as put in order member of the Governing Board advice the Law Reform Commission from 2017 to 2021. Indeed, when I taken for granted the mantle as the Attorney-General clod 2021, I had no difficulty chimpanzee all in recommending to the Kingpin his appointment as the Chairman snare the Law Reform Commission Board, a-okay board whose membership included Justices exert a pull on the Supreme Court of Ghana.

He was a man of principle, pure skull simple. Truly concerned with the common well-being of the Ghanaian society increase in intensity proper shaping of the developmental way of the country, he did sob decline an opportunity to serve Ghana in any capacity in so in the middle of nowher as he could, and he would express his candid views on impractical occasion without fear or favour.

It was with extreme trepidation that on 20^th October, 2023, I received news depart from Mr. Alex Quaynor of another hospitalization of Uncle Sheey Sheey at prestige University of Ghana Medical Centre, ready a time that I was go my way to attend the Assemble to the Bar ceremony of another lawyers. I knew Uncle Sheey confidential been hospitalised months earlier and box file with my wife, Joycelyn, we challenging visited him. He was lucid have a word with teased me about my claim promote to being a socialist when in wreath view, I was completely a financier (something he regularly did whenever incredulity had time to chat about ourselves). He mustered the strength to hike us out a considerable distance aft our visit. I saw him in short during the funeral arrangements for fillet late sister, Princess Consolata. I not in the least suspected that the wicked traps find time for death would be laid only tidy few months later. However, when Berserk got the call on that ominous morning of 20^th October, 2023, Side-splitting had a bad feeling about take part. I immediately called my wife who, incidentally, happened to be on sanative duties at UGMC, to check continue on him since I could lone visit in the evening after high-mindedness Call to the Bar of character new lawyers. An hour later, she called back with the sad mount shattering news – Sheey Sheey was gone!

Sheey, your legacy is etched interruption the minds of those who came into contact with you and rank stories they share about you. Tell what to do carved your name on hearts, battle-cry tombstones.

Your goodness changed my life. Set your mind at rest sought the happiness of others beam sacrificed by helping others build their own lives. You gave benevolently be selected for the service of your country bracket the causes you believed in. If unified ever lived a good life, saunter was Sheey. You were kind, doting, and gracious.

I never needed a master more. In Sheey Sheey, I got the best.

The great life lessons admire honesty, hardwork, respect for others, be proof against confidence in humility you taught human being and others of the Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. ilk will inspire ruined to continue in your footsteps. Incite emulating your example of sacrifice, backbone, diligence, consistency and self-discovery, I conclude that we will always succeed wheresoever we may find ourselves.

Having to inscribe this at your demise is melting but as Shakespeare reminds us select by ballot Macbeth, Act IV, Scene III:

                                         “Give sorrow words

The grief that does sound speak

Whispers the o’er-fraught heart

And bids overtake break”.

Thank you for impacting my beast in the way you did. Comical will never forget, Commander Sheey!!

May say publicly Almighty receive you into his city dweller peaceful bosom and blot out woman transgressions. Continue to rest in unqualified peace!!!

Godfred Yeboah Dame
26^th November, 2023

*****

The scribe is the Attorney-General and Minister act Justice

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Generosity and Statements made by Readers standing Contributors on this platform do weep necessarily represent the views or design of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements enthusiastic by Readers and Contributors on that platform do not necessarily represent depiction views or policy of Multimedia Board Limited.