By Kweku Darko Ankrah
In this public function vintage photo (from left to right), we have Dr Joseph Boakye Kyeretwie Danquah, nationalist, lawyer and the doyen of the Gold Coast Politics, Nii Kwabena Bonnie aka Boycotthene, Osu Alata Mantse, Sir Mark Wilson, the last European Chief Justice of Gold Coast, Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, nationalist, first African Chief Justice [ads1]of Gold Coast and Ghana and Sir Nana Tsibu Darko, the Paramount Chief of Assin Atandensu, President of the Joint Provincial Council of Chiefs and the grand father of Mr Ben Ephson, the managing editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper. Circa 1956, The photo is by the kind courtesy of Sir Arku Korsah`s family
A little history for you. Chief Justice Sir Mark Wilson had his untimely death in Accra following a very bizarre accident. When the old Supreme Court of Gold Coast was being renovated, possibly to serve as Parliament House, Sir Mark left his office to walk on the newly refurbished building. He stepped on a place where the wooden plaster holding the concrete was not yet dry. He fell from the first floor and landed in the court room below it.
He was severely injured and rushed to Korle-Bu Hospital. He returned the following day to sit on a murder trial and sentenced the accused to death. On that same day after sentencing the accused to death, he died, paving way for Justice Okai Quashie-Idun to take over as the acting-Chief Justice until Sir Arku Korsah was finally appointed as the substantive Chief Justice.
