His early education began in 1934 at the Catholic Primary School in Sekondi. He enrolled at Aggrey Memorial College, Cape Coast in 1940 but left in 1941 and joined Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast in 1942 to continue his secondary education. He proceeded to England in 1952 to study politics at the Marx School, London, where he passed the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) in 1954. He went on to study law at the University of London later that year and joined the Middle Temple in 1957. He was called to the bar in 1960. While in Britain he was a Labour Party activist, the President of the Ghana Students' Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and vice-president of the West African Students' Union.[4][5]
Career
Brodie-Mends worked as journalist, as a sub-editor for the Star of West Africa from 1947 to 1952.
He served as a member of the board of the board of governors of Mfantsipim School and Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School. He also served as a board member of the Ghana College of Sports (COS) in 1966 and the New Times Ltd. He was a member of the Central Regional Development Committee, member of the Constituent Assembly, and counsel for the University College, Cape Coast. He was chairman of the Management Committee of the Cape Coast Municipal Council.[4][5][6]
The overthrow of the Busia government led to his arrest; he was incarcerated for 13 months.
He became a founding member of the Movement for Freedom and Justice, which opposed SMC and its UNIGOV concept, for which he was incarcerated for three months.
When Ghana was ushered into civilian rule in 1979 he became a founding member of the Popular Front Party and ran in the 1979 elections, but lost to a representative of the Action Congress Party.
He was made a divisional chief in his hometown Elmina.[6]
Personal life
Brodie-Mends enjoyed reading and writing. He was a keen football enthusiast who supported the Cape Coast Venomous Vipers. He was an enthusiast of lawn tennis. He also enjoyed playing draughts with the fishermen in Idan Guam, a fishing village in the Central Region.[6] He was a Christian.[6]
Death
Brodie-Mends died after a short illness on 19 January 2013 in Accra.[6]