James Mercer (diplomat)


James Mercer was a Ghanaian diplomat to Israel during the 1960s and a prominent national lawyer. He was the first chairman of the now-defunct Ghana Airways.

Early life

Mercer was born in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. His twin brother was and both attended Adisadel College, Cape Coast, as did many of his siblings, children and grandchildren, a long-standing tradition of his family.

Career

He was a prominent lawyer, working during the government of Kwame Nkrumah and beyond. Mercer was a barrister-at-law at the Sekondi Bar, Chairman of the Ghana/Ivory Coast Border Commission and first Chairman of the now-defunct Ghana Airways.
He is the father of Andrew Egypa Mercer, a current member of parliament for Sekondi. He was also the brother of T. M. 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. James Mercer was also the uncle of late Sally Hayfron, first wife of Robert Mugabe.