Chief Justice Abban Is Dead

Ghana's Chief Justice, Justice E.K. Donkor Abban, died yesterday morning at the Trust hospital in Accra.

The late Justice Abban who swore in President J.A.Kufuor earlier January this year, left Ghana immediately after that historic event for medical attention in London.

Justice Abban's office was under severe public criticism during last December elections that brought the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to power when the Supreme court ruled, that voters who never had the new voters registration I.D.Card with their photos were eligible to vote in that election. Already the various political parties and the Electoral Commission have agreed that all voters' registration cards be changed to new ones with voters photographs to avoid voting malpractice by voters during that election as was observed in the 1996 general election.

The late Justice Abban has been described as one of Ghana's longest serving Chief Justice. The cause of his death has not been established, but it is wildly believed to be due to old age. Many people are saying that his death has saved him from President Kufuor's compulsory leave given to tap Government functionaries of the ousted NDC government of Ex- President J.J.Rawlings.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangement is yet to be announced by his family. But the government of President Kufuor has not made any public statement to the death of the Late Chief Justice who died in office.