AMISSAH N.E AUSTIN

Amissah Austin was a distinguished figure born in Accra, Ghana on October 3, 1930. His academic journey led him to Jesus College, Oxford, where he honed his legal expertise and was admitted to the bar as a member of Lincoln's Inn in 1955. His career trajectory was illustrious; he served as the Director of Public Prosecutions for Ghana from 1962 to 1966, followed by a tenure as a judge of the Court of Appeal from 1966 to 1976. During this time, he also assumed significant roles, such as being seconded to the University of Ghana as a professor and Dean of the Law Faculty from 1969 to 1974, as well as chairing the Ghana Law Reform Commission from 1969 to 1975.

In 1979, Amissah's expertise led to his appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Justice. His influence extended beyond Ghana when he became a judge of the Court of Appeal in Botswana from 1981 to 2001, a period that included his presidency of the Court of Appeal. Amissah's scholarly contributions were noteworthy, with publications such as "Criminal Procedure in Ghana" (1982), which earned him the prestigious Noma Award, and "The Contribution of Courts to Government: a West African view" (1981). Additionally, his insights on arbitration in Africa were captured in his work "Arbitration in Africa" (1996).

Sadly, Amissah passed away in London on January 20, 2001, having resided there since 1982. His legacy endures through his significant contributions to the legal landscape of both Ghana and Botswana, as well as his scholarly writings that continue to inform legal discourse in Africa and beyond.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Amissah