Akufo-Addo Eulogized Late VCRAC Crabbe

President Akufo-Addo has eulogised the late Supreme Court Judge, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, describing him as outstanding.

He is said to have died Friday morning at a hospital in Accra after a short illness at age 95.

In a Facebook post, the President said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I express my sincere, heartfelt condolences to the family of Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe on his death, which occurred today, Friday, 7th September, 2018.

“Respected public servant, eminent jurist, 1st Ghanaian Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice of the Supreme Court, accomplished Ghanaian and patriot, he served his country with distinction, and contributed immensely to our nation’s jurisprudence and development.

“His discipline, honesty and integrity made him an outstanding servant of the Ghanaian people and of the public interest. His objective was always the advancement of Ghana, and not partisan considerations. Even in old age, he continued to make crucial interventions in our nation’s discourse. Ghana has lost a dedicated nationalist and fine gentleman. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may God bless him.”

Biography

In August 1952, he was admitted to the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to read law.

He completed the normal three-year course in two years and was called to the Bar on the 8th February, 1955 having being granted a dispensation.

The same year he was enrolled as a member of the Gold Coast Bar, in order to maintain his Seniority at the Bar.

He progressed from Assistant Crown Counsel to Parliamentary Counsel, the first African to be appointed as such and ended up as a Senior Instructor at the International Law Development Centre in Rome, Italy.

In between, he has held the post of First Parliamentary Counsel and Constitutional Advisor to the Uganda Government, Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat Scheme for Legislative draftsmen for the West African Region, Southern Africa Region, the Caribbean Region and a Professor of Legislative drafting at the Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, University of West Indies.

Crabbe was Special Commissioner to the 1968 Constitutional Commission; Legislative Draftsmen to the 1969 Constituent Assembly which drafted the 1969 Constitution of Ghana.

He was the Chairman of the 1979 Constituent Assembly and drafted the 1979 Constitution of Ghana.

He worked with the Constitutional Review Commission of Kenya and was Leader of the group of Draftspersons who drafted the Kenya Constitution.

He did work the Zambian Constitutional Commission for the drafting of the Zambian Constitution as well with the Fiajoe Review Commission for the review of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

With Justice P.N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India and Justice Eso of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to advise on the setting up of the Constitutional Court in South Africa.