Akilagpa Sawyerr

George Akilagpa Sawyerr, FGA is a Ghanaian academic. He is a professor in the field of law and has served in various universities in Ghana and abroad. He is a former vice chancellor of the University of Ghana[1] and also a former president of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Akilagpa Sawyerr

FGA
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
In office
1985–1992
Preceded byDaniel Adzei Bekoe
Succeeded byGeorge Benneh
Personal details
Born
George Akilagpa Sawyerr

(1939-03-24) 24 March 1939
Gold Coast
NationalityGhanaian
Alma mater
OccupationAcademic
Academic background
Academic work
DisciplineLaw
Institutions

Early life and education

George was born on 24 March 1939 to Akilagpa Sawyerr and Charlotte Amy (née Mettle) Sawyerr.

He attended Achimota School where he received his Cambridge certificate in 1956 and his cambridge higher certificate in 1958. He studied at the University of Durham for his bachelor of laws degree (LL.B). He received his Master of Laws degree (LL.M) from the University of London and the University of California, Berkeley. He received his doctorate in Juridical Science (JSD) from the University of California, Berkeley in 1972.[2][3]

Career

Akilagpa joined the teaching faculty of the University of Dar Es Salaam in 1964 as lecturer and later on a senior lecturer. In 1969 he was appointed director of the university's research center a position he held until 1970. He moved to Ghana that same year and was employed at the University of Ghana as a lecturer at the faculty of law. In 1979 he worked as a professor of law at the University of Papua New Guinea. He worked there until 1985 when he was appointed vice chancellor of the University of Ghana.[4] He served in that capacity until 1992. In 1993 he was appointed director of research for the Association of African Universities, rising to the position of Secretary-General of the Association from 2003 to 2008.[5] In 2015 he was elected president of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.[6]

Publications

Akilgpa has authored many books, chapters and articles that have been published in journals. His interest are mostly focused on legal matters and higher education in Africa. Some of his books include:

  • The Student Loans Scheme: Two Decades of Experience in Ghana, (2001)[7]
  • The Politics of Adjustment Policy, (1988)[8]
  • Challenges facing African universities: selected issues, (2002)[9]
  • The Political Dimension of Structural Adjustment Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, (1990)[10]
  • The doctrine of precedent in the Court of Appeal for East Africa, (1971)[11]

Award and legacy

In 2018 he was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt, Honoris Causa) degree by the University of Cape Coast.[12]

The road stretch from the roundabout to the campus of the University of Ghana was named in his honour.[13]

Personal life

He is married to Judith Sara Quitkin. Together they have two children. His hobbies include tennis.

References
  1. "Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr to Chair Panel to Review Collegiate System of Governance". University of Ghana. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  2. Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. (2003). Management of Ghana's Natural Resources. ISBN 9789964302948.
  3. Ghanaweb,"3-4yrs SHS debate: Content key, not duration – Akilagpa Sawyerr", Ghanaweb, 1 June 2016.
  4. "Company Overview of Human Sciences Research Council". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  5. Ekong, E. E. (2015). Management styles in Nigerian universities under military rule and the challenges of democracy : how democratic can university management be?. p. vii. ISBN 9789988589172.
  6. "Past Presidents". Archived from the original on 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  7. Sawyerr, Akilagpa (2001). The Student Loans Scheme: Two Decades of Experience in Ghana.
  8. Sawyerr, Akilagpa (1988). The Politics of Adjustment Policy.
  9. Sawyerr, Akilagpa (2002). Challenges facing African universities: selected issues.
  10. Sawyerr, Akilagpa (1990). The Political Dimension of Structural Adjustment Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa. ISBN 9789964301842.
  11. Sawyerr, Akilgpa; Hiller, J. A. (1971). The doctrine of precedent in the Court of Appeal for East Africa.
  12. ABDUL-KARIM MOHAMMED,"UCC Honours Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr", Choicism, 03 October 2018.
  13. Edmund Smith-Asante,"3 Former University of Ghana VCs honoured", Graphic Online, 18 April 2016.
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