Part of his earllier education was at the Presbyterian Training College at Akropong in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[2] He qualified as a lawyer and was registered as Raphael Nii Amaa Ollennu in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1940.[3] He later became a judge. He has also published books on various legal topics and is an authority on traditional African land-tenure system. He was also actively involved with the general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.[4]
During the second republic, Ollennu was the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana from October 1969 to January 1972. He also became the acting president of Ghana on August 7, 1970. He was officially the chairman of the Presidential Commission. He took over from the previous military leader, Lt. Gen. Afrifa and handed over on August 31, 1970 to Edward Akufo-Addo who was elected on 31 August, 1970 by an electoral college. He polled 123 votes to 35 by Edward Asafu Adjaye. This was a ceremonial presidency as executive power was held by the prime minister, Dr. Busia. Nii Amaa Ollennu was married to a sister of Dr. Busia the prime minister.[5]
Later life
During the second republic of Ghana, Ollennu served as Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana. He died in 1986.
Works by Nii Amaa Ollennu
Ollennu, Nii Amaa (1962). Principles of customary land law in Ghana, Law in Africa Volume 2. London: Sweet and Maxwell. OCLC877770.
Humphrey, J.; Fiseer, N.A., Ollennu, Nii Amaa (1966). The law of testate and intestate succession in Ghana, Law in Africa Volume 16. London: Sweet and Maxwell. B0000CN89R.
Ollennu, Nii Amaa; Gordon R. Woodman (1985). Ollennu's principles of customary land law in Ghana, 2nd edition, Birmingham: CAL Press. ISBN 978-0951053003.
Notes
^ "Rulers - Ghana". List of heads of state and heads of Government. Rulers.org. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
^ "Proceedings". The official record of the 20th general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the 11th assembly of the International Congregational Council held in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 20 to 30 1970. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Retrieved on 2007-03-25. “Dr Pradervand announced that greetings had been received, through the high commissioner of Ghana, from the Hon Justice Nii Amaa Ollennu, who was unable to attend the council because of his responsibilities in the Ghanaian government.”
^ "Personality Talk". Official Website. The Hawa Foundation and Organization. Retrieved on 2007-03-25. “Mrs. Amerley Awua Asamoa"........"My father was the late Justice Nii Amaa Ollennu (a renowned Jurist and Speaker of Parliament, 2nd Republic of Ghana). My mother is Nana Afua Frema, former Queen-mother of Wenchi and direct sister of the late Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia (Prime Minister of the 2nd Republic).”