Nii Ayikoi Otoo (commonly referred to as Lawyer Ayiquaye Otoo, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, Hon. Ayikoi Otoo, or H.E. J. Ayikoi Otoo) is a distinguished Ghanaian legal practitioner, politician, diplomat, and community leader. He is a senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a prominent advocate for the Ga-Dangme (also spelled Gadangme or Ga-Adangbe) people, serving as President of the GaDangme Council.
Born in Mamprobi, Greater Accra Region, to parents E. K. A. Otoo and Emelia Otoo, he grew up in the heart of Ga traditional territory. He attended Ebenezer Secondary School in Accra for his GCE Ordinary Level and Fijai Secondary School in Sekondi for his GCE Advanced Level. In 1976, he enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon, graduating with a law degree in 1979. He proceeded to the Ghana School of Law and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1981.
Legal Career
After national service and a period working in Nigeria, Nii Ayikoi Otoo joined the Accra-based firm Adamafio & Associates, where he practiced for over two decades. In the early 2000s, he founded Otoo & Associates (Leo Chambers) in Laterbiokorshie, Accra, a reputable chambers that has handled numerous high-profile cases documented in the Ghana Law Reports and Supreme Court of Ghana Law Reports.
He has been deeply involved in the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), serving as Secretary and later President of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Association for three consecutive terms (1998–2001). He also collaborated with Nana Akufo-Addo on the National Council of the GBA. Additional statutory roles include membership on the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, the Judicial Council of Ghana, and chairmanship of the Legal Service Board.
Political and Public Service Career
A long-standing NPP member, he was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of Justice by President John Agyekum Kufuor on 1 February 2005, serving until a cabinet reshuffle in April 2006 (succeeding Papa Owusu-Ankomah and preceding Joe Ghartey). During this period, he became a non-voting member of Parliament and led Ghana’s delegations to several international arbitrations.
He chaired the NPP’s Constitutional Committee (2010) and served on the party’s vetting committee for the 2011 presidential primary. In December 2011, Ga-Adangbe youth formally petitioned the NPP leadership to nominate him as running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo (though Mahamudu Bawumia was selected). In 2022, he announced a bid for NPP National Chairman but withdrew before the delegates’ conference.5a9f54
He is a respected political and social commentator on Ghanaian television and radio.
In March 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo appointed him as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, a post he held with distinction until 2021 (some records note until 2020).
Corporate and Other Roles
Board Chairman/Director roles at GLICO Life Insurance Company and State Insurance Company (SIC).
Member of the Interim Management Team of Sabat Motors.
Fellow of the Ghana Institute of International Affairs.
Personal Life
He is married to Patricia Otoo, and the couple has six children.
Contributions to the Ga-Dangme (Gadangme) People
Nii Ayikoi Otoo is widely recognized as a leading voice for Ga-Dangme identity, heritage, and development. His advocacy spans cultural preservation, land protection, socio-economic empowerment, and recognition of Ga-Dangme contributions to Ghana since the Gold Coast era.
As President of the GaDangme Council (a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious body founded in 1999), he assumed leadership following a formal handover on 14 January 2023. The Council’s core objectives—promoting socio-economic development in the GaDangme region, safeguarding Ga-Dangme lands, and preserving/promoting Ga-Dangme heritage—have been advanced through targeted initiatives under his tenure:
Cultural Unity and Promotion: Standardized “OobakÉ›” as a common greeting across Ga and Dangme areas;
Media and Language Preservation: Secured provisional frequencies for three community FM radio stations broadcasting exclusively in Ga and Dangme languages.
Education and Empowerment: Launched a fully-funded scholarship scheme in partnership with the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), covering tuition, application fees, and hostel accommodation for qualified Ga-Dangme undergraduates.
Health and Community Development: Facilitated donations (e.g., 23 sewing machines from GaDangme International in the USA/Canada); supported sod-cutting for a new maternity block at Prampram Hospital via GaDangme Europa Association; coordinated health outreach with pharmacists.
Networking and Economic Initiatives: Establishing a national database of Ga-Dangme professionals to foster networking, investment partnerships, and mutual support.
Institutional Collaboration: Held meetings with the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and Regional Minister to strengthen partnerships.
He has publicly highlighted the outsized contributions of Ga-Dangme personalities to Ghana’s development in academia, economy, law, media, health, business, and politics (dating back to pre-independence).
In February 2026, as Council President, he called for renaming Ghana’s main international airport (currently Kotoka) after a distinguished Ga chief or personality to properly honour the indigenous Ga people on whose lands it sits—arguing that a generic “Accra” name insufficiently recognises their legacy, in contrast to symbolic recognitions elsewhere.
His legal background in lands and constitutional matters further supports Ga-Dangme efforts to protect indigenous lands amid Accra’s rapid urbanisation. He participates in rallies, conferences (including international GaDangme events), and historical discussions on Ga-Dangme origins and future.
Recent Activities and Legacy
In 2025, he served as lead counsel in high-profile judicial matters, including representing former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. He continues to comment on national issues such as illegal mining while prioritising Ga-Dangme advocacy. His leadership has strengthened Ga-Dangme unity, professional networking, and cultural visibility within Ghana’s multi-ethnic fabric.
Nii Ayikoi Otoo exemplifies the integration of professional excellence, political service, and ethnic stewardship. His work continues to uplift the Ga-Dangme community while contributing to broader national development.
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