Ex-Chief Justice Wiredu is dead

Justice E. K. Wiredu, a former Chief Justice of Ghana, died on Thursday morning, January 31, 2008 after a short illness.

His career spaned 43 years as a lawyer and judge.

Justice Wiredu was appointed Chief Justice in July 2001 and held that position until 2003.

His appointed was however challenged on the grounds that he did not serve the required number of years as a lawyer before becoming a judge.

He was also noted for entering a plea of not guilty for former president Rawlings over his role in the May 15, 1979 abortive coup after Rawlings had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Late Justice Wiredu was appointed to the High Court in 1969 and became an Appeal Court Judge in 1980. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1990 and became Chief Justice in 2001.