Extract of roll book proves Akufo-Addo is a lawyer

A request by Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to the General Legal Council to furnish him with a certified photocopy of the extract from the Roll Book for 8th July 1975, has revealed, once again, that the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, was called to the Ghana Bar on the 8th July, 1975.

Mr Dame made this request in a letter dated 11th April 2013, to the Administrative Secretary of the General Legal Council, to “assist our client in the defence of a challenge to his status as a lawyer called to the Ghana bar”, a suit filed by Justice Francis Kpegah.

Mr Bernard Bentil, administrative secretary of the Ghana Legal Council, duly acknowledged receipt of Mr Dame’s request and replied with a letter of his own, dated 12th April 2013, where he “attached a certified copy of the extract from the Roll Books in respect of William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”

The Roll Book, bearing the signature of the Chairman of the Legal Counsel, states expressly that Nana Akufo-Addo was “admitted and enrolled as a Legal practitioner of the Courts of Ghana this 8th day of July 1975.”

Nana Akufo-Addo’s signature is duly captured in the Roll Book, as acknowledging receipt of his certificate of call as a lawyer on the 8th of July 1975.

The extract from the Roll Book, also contains Nana Akufo-Addo’s call to the Middle Temple in the UK, which was signed by J.B Morison.

The extract states that “William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, BA (Hons), of the University of Ghana, of Peduase Lodge, Aburi, Ghana, the first son of Edward Akufo-Addo, of Ghana, aforesaid President of Ghana was specially admitted to the Middle Temple on the thirteenth day of January one thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine. Called to the Utter Bar on the twenty-second day of July One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one and published in the common dining hall of the said Society on the same day. And that he hath paid all duties which were owing by him to the Society and the officers thereunto belonging.”

The extract continues: “In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and the seal of the said Society this third day of March in the twenty-third Year of the Reign of Our Gracious Sovereign Lady, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms, territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and in the Year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and seventy-five.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, in light of this, has filed a supplementary affidavit in support of his application to dismiss the suit brought by Justice Kpegah, describing it as “as frivolous and vexatious with punitive costs”, as the only intention of Justice Kpegah is to “smear my reputation, not only in Ghana but internationally.”