A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (May 2016) |
James Mercer (17 January 1916 – 17 September 1985) was a Ghanaian diplomat who was Ambassador to Israel during the 1960s. He was also a prominent lawyer and businessman, becoming the founding chairman of the now-defunct Ghana Airways.
James Mercer | |
|---|---|
 Mercer at the Ghanaian embassy in Tel Aviv, 1964 | |
 GhanaianAmbassador to  Chinaes:Anexo:Embajadores de Ghana en China | |
| In office 1962–1963 | |
| Preceded by | es:Cobina Kessie |
| Succeeded by | Joe-Fio Neenyann Meyer |
| Ghanaian Ambassador to  Israel | |
| In office 1964–1966 | |
| Preceded by | es:Bediako Poku[1] |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Joseph Asamoah Otu (1915–1979) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 January 1916 |
| Died | 17 September 1985 (aged 69) |
Early life
editMercer was born in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana on 17 January 1916. His twin brother was Thomas Mends Kodwo-Mercer (1916–2003), and both attended Adisadel College, Cape Coast, as did many of his siblings, children and grandchildren, a long-standing tradition of his family.[2]
Career
editMercer was a prominent lawyer, working during the government of Kwame Nkrumah and beyond. Mercer was a barrister-at-law[3] at the Sekondi Bar, Chairman of the Ghana/Ivory Coast Border Commission and first chairman of the now-defunct Ghana Airways.[4]
- From 24 May 1962 to 1963 he was ambassador to Peking.
- From 1 July 1964 to 24 February 1966 he was ambassador to Tel Aviv (Ghana–Israel relations).
Personal life and death
editJames Mercer was the father of Andrew Egypa Mercer, a current member of parliament for Sekondi and Esther Mercer. He was also the brother of Thomas Mends Kodwo-Mercer, the first Ghanaian High Commissioner to Britain from 1954 to 1956 and uncle of the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.[3][5] James Mercer was also the uncle of late Sally Hayfron, first wife of Robert Mugabe.[6]
James Mercer died on 17 September 1985, at the age of 69.[7]
References
edit- ^ Bediako Poku(born 1918) in Gold Coast; 1939–1942: educated Wesley College Kumasi, 1963: Lincoln's Inn; 1943–1945: Headmaster, Kumasi Division School, 1945–1947: Boy's Industrial School; 1948–1950: National Treasurer, Convention People's Party; 1951–1954: Member, Ghana Legislative Assembly; 1954–1959: General Secretary Convention People's Party; 1957: Afro-Asian Conference Cairo; Guinea Democratic Annual Convention 1958; 1959–1964: Ambassador to Israel; 1964 appointed High Commissioner Uganda; Member, Ghana delegations to OAU in Cairo; 18 February 1966–24 February 1966: Ambassador to Peking, 4 August 1966:New Ghana Ambassador to USSR Ghana's Ambassador designate to the Soviet Union, Bediako Poku, has left Accra for Moscow to take up his duties. He was formerly Ghana's Ambassador to China
- ^ "Adisadel College Old Boys Association - Year Group Reports". www.adisadelonline.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Burial of First African Gold Coast Commissioner to UK". Ghana Web. GHANA HIGH COMMISSION. 28 November 2003. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Reminiscences of Adisadel". adisadelonline.net. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ Guttery, Ben (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. McFarland. p. 75. ISBN 9780786404957.
- ^ Buser, Hans (2010). In Ghana at Independence: Stories of a Swiss Salesman. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien. p. 31. ISBN 978-3905758191.
- ^ West Africa: Issues 3583–3599. West Africa Publishing Company Limited. 1986. p. 964.