Ebo Quarshie Laid To Rest

Date published: February 3, 2014
 
From Alfred Adams, Anomabo
THE mortal remains of the late Joseph Ebo Quarshie, a former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) was laid to rest last weekend at his ancestral home of Anomabo, where he was the Twafohene of the Traditional Area.

His stool name was Nana Obuesiwah VII.   The remains was buried late in the night of Saturday as tradition demands.

The Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Alhassan, the 1 st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ebo Barton-Oduro, among others, joined a host of celebrated lawyers to bid the accomplished and renowned Counsel good-bye at a funeral service held at the Ebenezer Methodist Church, Anomabo.

The body of the celebrated lawyer was not moved to the church for the funeral service, but a portrait of him was placed at the entrance of the altar for the service.  

Ebo Quarshie, popularly called ‘Uncle Ebo’, fell sick on the 4 th of October, 2013, and was subsequently taken to the Nyaho Medical Center, where he passed on the next day at age 70.

He left behind a widow, Mrs. Mercy Quarshie and five children. Tribute after tribute kept pouring in about the life of the Anomabo Lawyer, ranging from his work as a distinguished lawyer, traditionalist and a Christian.

One of his children jovially recounted how his departed father once cooked them jollof, with all the ingredients present, but he forgot to add salt to the meal.

A number of Methodist priests, including the Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Edward Ofori Donkor, Rt. Rev Justice Asane, Bishop of the Cape Diocese, led the funeral service.  

The deceased, during his life time worshipped with the Sekondi Wesley Cathedral as a Methodist and a synod member. The Sekondi Cathedral of the Methodist Church, led by former Bishop Harvey Ewusi extolled the good work of the deceased as a congregant and a lead lawyer of the Church, who would not decline any church invitation. The GBA, in its tribute, described the late Ebo Quarshie as an invaluable asset.

He was born in 1943 and was given the name Kobina Gyakyi. He attended St. Augustine College where he studied Science and Latin. He gained admission to the University of Cape Coast between 1965 and 1969 where he majored in Zoology, Chemistry and Education.

After graduation, he taught Chemistry at Mfantsipim Senior High School and later transferred to Apam Senior High School. Between 1970 and 1974, he enrolled at Harvard University, where majored in Psychology and Law.

After graduating from Harvard, he worked for a brief period with Citizens Bank of Maryland. In 1974, he was admitted as a student Member of the Honourable Society of Licolns Inn, London, and about the same time he enrolled at Inns of Court Law School.

Ebo was called to the English Bar at Lincolns Inn in 1978 and was enrolled as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana in 1980.

He was the president of the GBA from 1998-2002, Member of the General Legal Council-1998-2002 and Member of the Judicial Council.

He served as a member of the Police Council for a period of 13 years.

The late Ebo Quarshie is credited with celebrated cases recorded in the Ghana Law Report. The cases include   Re: Ogua Paramount Stool: Garbrah and others vrs Central Regional House of Chiefs where the Supreme Court was called upon to decide amongst others on the issue of whether the administrative act of inserting the name of an individual in the Register of Chiefs constituted a cause or matter of chieftaincy. 

The others are the Dupaul Wood Treatment Company Limited and Duffour vrs Ameare, Gregory vrs Tandoh IV and the Republic vrs High Court, Sekondi.