Yaw Appau

Born in 1951, Appau is a tribal Koulango from Badu, Ghana. He attended Wenchi West Primary School and Bekwai Methodist Middle School. Financial constraints prevented him from completing his Ordinary-Level certificate at Prempeh College. He dropped out in 1967 and attended Ajumako Teacher Training College, where he obtained Teachers' Certificate "A".

Appau, a teacher, taught at Droboso L/A Middle School and Frema L/A Middle School from 1971 to 1977. He served as headmaster and became the Regional Coordinator of the Students and Youth Task Force in 1982.

In 1977, he studied law and political science at the University of Ghana, graduating in 1980 and completing his studies at the Ghana School of Law in 1982.

In December 1982, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Ghana's bar as a barrister and solicitor. In 1983, he was chosen to attend a ten-month school in international relations in Havana, Cuba. Upon his return in 1984, he was chosen to join the National Investigations Committee (NIC). In May 1985, he announced his resignation from the NIC and started a solo practice at Barimah Chambers in Sunyani.

At the Sekondi District Magistrate Court, which served as both a family tribunal and a juvenile court, he was named a district magistrate grade 1. From 1991 to 1995, he served as a district magistrate. He oversaw the Shama and Cape Coast District Magistrate Courts while serving as a District Magistrate.He was posted to the Aflao Circuit Court in 1996 after being appointed as a circuit court judge. He was appointed to the Ashanti Region to serve as the region's supervising High Court Judge after being promoted to justice of the High Court four years later.

Appau, an appeal court judge, was appointed as the Sole Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry in 2012. He holds membership in various associations and has authored papers on key topics.

Former President John Mahama nominated Justice Appau alongside Justice Gabriel Pwamang. He was then examined by the parliament on June 3, 2015 and on June 24, 2015, he received unanimous approval.He and Gabriel Pwamang took the oath of office.

He was a member of the seven-person panel the Chief Justice appointed to consider John Mahama's petition regarding the 2020 election against the Ghanaian Electoral Commission and Nana Akufo-Addo