George Clerk was born on 29 July 1931 in
Accra,
Gold Coast.[9] His father,
Carl Henry Clerk (1895–1982), an agricultural educator, journalist and Presbyterian minister was elected the fourth Synod Clerk of the
Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast from 1950 to 1954 and the Editor of the
Christian Messenger, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana from 1960 to 1963.[10][11] His mother, Martha Ayorkor Quao (1911–1989) was from La and
Ga-Mashie.[12] Quao's maternal grandfather was Nii Ngleshie Addy I, the first son of Nii Tetteh Tsuru I, the founder and ruler of the Otuopai Clan, a royal house in Ga Mashie. G. C. Clerk's father who had earlier studied agricultural science at
Tuskegee University, incidentally named him after the American botanist,
George Washington Carver, whose works the older Clerk had studied at the institute, perhaps a foreshadowing of the infant George's future career path.[11][13][14]
Clerk's maternal uncle was the jurist and judge,
Nii Amaa Ollennu (1906–1986), elected the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana during the
Second Republic as well as serving as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission and acting
President of Ghana from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970.[37][38] His uncle was
Nathan Quao (1915–2005), a diplomat, educationist and public servant who doubled as a presidential advisor to several
Heads of State of Ghana.[39][40] Moreover, his first cousin was the economist and diplomat,
Amon Nikoi (1930–2002), appointed the Governor of the
Bank of Ghana from 1973 to 1977 and Finance minister from 1979 to 1981.[41][42]
Prior to his postgraduate studies, Clerk taught biology at
Prempeh College for about three years in the late 1950s and also served as an assistant housemaster there.[1][47] During this period, he was also an instructor in mathematical sciences to
adult education students.[47] He then became a researcher at the Plant Services Division of the
Ministry of Agriculture.[47] George Clerk rose through the ranks to attain the rank of Full Professor of Botany at the University of Ghana, Legon after joining the institution as a lecturer in 1964.[1][2][3][51][52] While at the University of Ghana, he served as the Senior Tutor of the Senior Common Room and the Hall Master for
Akuafo Hall from 1979 to 1980, a hall he had lived in as a student.[1][53] He served as the departmental head and was appointed the Dean of Graduate Studies at the university.[47]
G. C. Clerk was married; his children were Judith, George, Jnr., Nicholas, Theodore, Daniel and Dinah.[47][49][64] Clerk was a trained pianist.[47][49][64] His older brother was
Nicholas T. Clerk (1930–2012), a former
GIMPA Rector.[9][15]
Death and funeral
George Clerk died in Accra on 2 May 2019 after a short illness.[47][49][64][65] Clerk's funeral service was held at the Akuafo Hall Chapel on the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, before his burial at the
Osu Cemetery in Accra.[47] Upon his death, G. C. Clerk's obituary was published by
Nature and the
International Society for Plant Pathology.[49][64][65]
(contrib.) Ewer, D. W.; Hall, J. B.; Clerk, G. C.; Coker, W. Z.; Oldman, R. S.; Owen, D. F. et al. (1989) “Ecological biology. 1: Organisms and their environments." Harlow: Longman[47][69]
Clerk, G. C. (1995) "Analysis and Interpretation of Biological Data for Senior Secondary Schools." Accra: Fairfield Publications[47]
Bibliography
Further reading
Clerk, G. C. (1960) "A vein-clearing virus of sweet potato in Ghana."Plant Dis. Rep.44: 932-933[70]
Clerk, G. C.; Madelin, M. F. (1965) “The longevity of conidia of three insect-parasitizing hyphomycetes.”Transactions of the British Mycological Society.48 (2): 193-209[57][71][72]
Clerk, G. C.; Ayesu-Offei, E. N. (1967). "Conidia and conidial germination in Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arn."Annals of Botany.31(4): 749–754[73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81]
Clerk, G. C.; Caurie, M. (1968) "Biochemical changes caused by some Aspergillus species in root tuber of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.)." Trop. Sci.10: 149–154[82][83]
Clerk, G. C. (1969) “Influence of Soil Extracts on the Germination of Conidia of the Fungi Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces farinosus.”Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 13: 120-124[84]
Clerk, G. C.; Ankora, J. K. (1969) "Development and release of conidia of Phyllactinia corylea."Canadian Journal of Botany. 47 (8): 1289–1290[85]
Bimpong, C. E.; Clerk, G. C. (1970) "Motility and Chemotaxis in Zoospores of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl." Annals of Botany.34 (3): 617–624[56][86]
Clerk, G. C.; Ankora, J. K. (1971) "Germination of conidia of Phyllactinia corylea at low humidities." Transactions of the British Mycological Society.57 (1): 162–164[87][88]
Clerk, G. C. (1972) "Germination of Sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl."Annals of Botany. 36 (4): 801–807[89][90]
Clerk, G.C. (1974) "Ultrastructure of Wall Swellings of Germinating Sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl."Annals of Botany. 38 (5): 1103–106[91][92]
Maramba, P.; Clerk, G.C. (1974) "Survival of conidia of Trachysphaera fructigena." Transactions of the British Mycological Society.63 (2): 391–393[93]
Clerk, G. C. (1978) "Tapinanthus bangwensis in a Cola Plantation in Ghana."PANS. 24 (1): 57–62[94][95]
Manu, M.; Clerk, G. C. (1981) "Secondary Sporangium Formation in Phytophthora Palmivora (Butl.) Butl."Annals of Botany.47(3): 329–334[96]
Akushie, P-L; Clerk, G. C. (1981) "Effect of relative humidity on viability of Rhizopus oryzae sporangiospores." Transactions of the British Mycological Society.76 (2): 332–334[97]
Cartey Caesar, J.; Clerk, G. C. (1985) "Water Stress-Induced Changes in the Morphology of the Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica (Lèv.) Arn."Journal of Phytopathology. 112 (3): 217–221[98]
Cartey Caesar, J.; Clerk, G. C. (1985) "Germinability of Leveillula taurica (powdery mildew) conidia obtained from water-stressed pepper plants." Canadian Journal of Botany.63 (10): 1681–1684[99]
Odamtten, G. T.; Clerk, G. C. (1988) "Effect of metabolites of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride on development and structure of radicle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings." Plant and Soil.106 (2): 285–288[100]
Ampofo, J. A.; Clerk, G. C. (2002) “Infestation of fish-culturing communities with fish-borne bacteria: The Ghanaian case.”International Journal of Environmental Health Research.12 (3):277-82 [101]
Ampofo, J. A.; Clerk, G. C. (2003) “Diversity of bacteria in sewage treatment plant used as fish culture pond in southern Ghana.”Aquaculture Research.34 (8): 667-675[102]
Ampofo, J. A.; Clerk, G. C. (2003) “Bacterial flora of fish feeds and organic fertilizers for fish culture ponds in Ghana.”Aquaculture Research.34 (8): 677-680[103]
Ameka, G. K.; Clerk, G. C.; Pfeifer, E.; Rutishauser, R. (2003) "Developmental morphology of Ledermanniella bowlingii (Podostemaceae) from Ghana."Plant Systematics and Evolution. 237 (3-4): 165–183[104]
Ampofo, J. A.; Clerk, G. C. (2010) “Diversity of Bacteria Contaminants in Tissues of Fish Cultured in Organic Waste-Fertilized Ponds: Health Implications.”The Open Fish Science Journal.3 (1):142-146[105]
Annang, T. Y.; Yirenya-Tawiah, R. D.; Clerk, G. C. (2012) “Preliminary Studies on the Occurrence of Freshwater Epipelic Algae in the Densu Basin in Southern Ghana.”West African Journal of Ecology.20 (2): 11–17[106]
Annang, T. Y.; Yirenya-Tawiah, R. D.; Clerk, G. C.; Smith, T. (2014) "Some aspects of the ecology of freshwater algae in the Densu River and two tributaries in Southern Ghana."International Journal of Environment.3 (2): 246–257[107]
^
abcdef"PRESEC | ALUMINI PORTAL". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2017.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link)
^Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 26 August 1954.
Archived from the original on 29 March 2017.
^
abClerk, Nicholas, T. (5 June 1982). Obituary: The Reverend Carl Henry Clerk. Accra: Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Funeral Bulletin.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Patton, Adell Jr. (13 April 1996). Physicians, Colonial Racism, and Diaspora in West Africa (1st ed.). Gainesville: University Press of Florida. p. 29.
ISBN9780813014326.
^
abcClerk, George Carver; Imperial College, London (1963). Studies on the survival and germination of conidia of three entomogenous fungi.
OCLC883434080.
^
abcdClerk, Daniel (July 2019).
"Obituary of George Carver Clerk, 1931–2019"(PDF). ISPP Newsletter. 49 (7). International Society for Plant Pathology: 5.
Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
^Ewer, D. W; Hall, J. B; Clerk, G. C (1972). Ecological biology: for A-level and intermediate students in Africa. London: Longman.
ISBN978-0582609426.
OCLC2895889.
^Ewer, D. W; Hall, J. B; Clerk, G. C; Coker, W. Z (1989). Ecological biology. for A-level and intermediate students in Africa 1: Organisms and their environments / contributors to this book: G.C. Clerk ... [et al.]. - Reprint. - 1990, cop. 1972 1 : Organisms and their environments / contributors to this book: G.C. Clerk ... [et al.]. - Reprint. - 1990, cop. 1972. Harlow: Longman.
OCLC873971686.
^Clerk, G. C.; Madelin, M. F. (1 June 1965). "The longevity of conidia of three insect-parasitizing hyphomycetes". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 48 (2): 193–209.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(65)80086-9.
ISSN0007-1536.
^Clerk, G.C; Madelin, M.F (1965). "The longevity of conidia of three insect-parasitizing hyphomycetes". MYRETR Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 48 (2): 193–209.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(65)80086-9.
ISSN0007-1536.
OCLC4922913201.
^Yigal Elad; Yoel Messika; Michal Brand; Dalia Rav David; Abraham Sztejnberg (2006). "Effect of Microclimate on Leveillula taurica Powdery Mildew of Sweet Pepper". Phytopathology. 97 (7): 813–824.
doi:
10.1094/PHYTO-97-7-0813.
PMID18943930.
^Clerk, G. C (1969). "Influence of Soil Extracts on the Germination of Conidia of the Fungi Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces farinosus". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 13: 120–124.
doi:
10.1016/0022-2011(69)90245-6.
OCLC709653919.
^Clerk, G. C.; Ankora, J. K. (1969). "Development and release of conidia of Phyllactinia corylea". Canadian Journal of Botany. 47 (8): 1289–1290.
doi:
10.1139/b69-180.
ISSN0008-4026.
^Bimpong, Christina E.; Clerk, G. C. (1 June 1970). "Motility and Chemotaxis in Zoospores of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl". Annals of Botany. 34 (3): 617–624.
doi:
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a084395.
ISSN0305-7364.
^Clerk, G. C.; Ankora, J. K. (1 January 1971). "Germination of conidia of Phyllactinia corylea at low humidities". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 57 (1): 162–164.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(71)80093-1.
ISSN0007-1536.
^Clerk, G.C; Ankora, J.K (1971). "Germination of conidia of Phyllactinia corylea at low humidities". MYRETR Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 57 (1): 162–164.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(71)80093-1.
ISSN0007-1536.
OCLC4922920266.
^Clerk, G. C. (1974). "Ultrastructure of Wall Swellings of Germinating Sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl". Annals of Botany. 38 (5): 1103–1106.
doi:
10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a084901.
ISSN0305-7364.
^Maramba, P.; Clerk, G. C. (1 October 1974). "Survival of conidia of Trachysphaera fructigena". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 63 (2): 391–393.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(74)80187-7.
ISSN0007-1536.
^Akushie, P-L.; Clerk, G. C. (1 February 1981). "Effect of relative humidity on viability of Rhizopus oryzae sporangiospores". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 76 (2): 332–334.
doi:
10.1016/S0007-1536(81)80158-1.
ISSN0007-1536.
^Caesar, J. Cartey; Clerk, G. C. (1985). "Water Stress-Induced Changes in the Morphology of the Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica (Lèv.) Arn". Journal of Phytopathology. 112 (3): 217–221.
doi:
10.1111/j.1439-0434.1985.tb00798.x.
ISSN1439-0434.
^Caesar, J. Cartey; Clerk, G. C. (1 October 1985). "Germinability of Leveillula taurica (powdery mildew) conidia obtained from water-stressed pepper plants". Canadian Journal of Botany. 63 (10): 1681–1684.
doi:
10.1139/b85-234.
ISSN0008-4026.
^Odamtten, G. T.; Clerk, G. C. (1 February 1988). "Effect of metabolites ofAspergillus niger andTrichoderma viride on development and structure of radicle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings". Plant and Soil. 106 (2): 285–288.
Bibcode:
1988PlSoi.106..285O.
doi:
10.1007/BF02371226.
ISSN1573-5036.
S2CID46073454.
^Ampofo, Joseph; C. Clerk, George (2010). "Diversity of Bacteria Contaminants in Tissues of Fish Cultured in Organic Waste-Fertilized Ponds: Health Implications". {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)