Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo
The Ghana Bar
Association (GBA) has honoured the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia A.B Akuffo, for
her outstanding legacy as a judge and her strong advocacy in upholding and
maintaining high standards in the legal profession in Ghana.
The Chief Justice, who
is set to retire at the latter part of December, was eulogised by the GBA,
recognising her contribution to legal reform in the country which borders
around professional ethics, dignity and integrity in the legal profession.
In a citation read by
the President of the Bar, Anthony Forson, at a thanksgiving church service in
honour of Justice Sophia Akuffo recognised her as “strong advocacy with
respect to upholding and maintaining standards, professional ethics, dignity
and integrity in the legal profession is worthy of mention. You marshalled the
closure of dilapidated court structures which is evidence of your deep desire
to ensure that the places of justice delivery in this country are
dignified.”
It said the CJ “exhibited
exceptional leadership qualities which are evident for all to see. You
displayed leadership in your relationship with the Bar and Bench. You engaged
with several regional bars when you toured the various regions in the country.
You also offered your maximum support to the Bar in reviving and calendarising
of the Bench, Bar and faculty lectures.”
The citation also touched on some of the offices she held ‒ including the vice and subsequently the president
of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ‒ as one of the pioneering judges.
“For the
aforementioned sterling qualities, exemplary leadership, distinguished and
dedicated service to Ghana, Africa and the legal profession, the Ghana Bar
Association, hereby confers on you the meritorious honour of outstanding and
dedicated performance, commitment to the legal profession and the
administration of justice; patriotism in your judicial career as a judge;
loyalty and devotion to Ghana and the African continent,” it concluded.
Response
Chief Justice Sophia
Akuffo, in her response to the eulogy, acknowledged the recognition and
expressed her profound gratitude to the GBA.
She said her
relationship with the Bar over the years has been “bitter sweet but that
is how the best relationships normally are because without friction, you don’t
get movement. We are able to move only because of the friction between our
feet.”
Justice Sophia Akuffo indicated
that although she may be retiring, she won’t relent on ensuring high standards
in the legal profession in Ghana are upheld.
“From the
sidelines, I am still going to be very critical about standards because as for
standards, we must never let them drop.”
Sermon
The District Minister of
the Tema North District of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. George,
in a sermon urged the CJ and the congregation of judges, lawyers and Judicial
Service staff to offer their lives to the God and live according to the tenets of
the Scripture as has been the story of Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.
He said the congregation
present showed that Justice Sophia Akuffo indeed served her country and the
African continent well.
Money raised at the thanksgiving
service was donated to the leprosarium at Weija.
Retirement
Chief Justice Sophia
Akuffo would retire from the Judiciary and from the Bench on the December 20,
2019, as she attains the age of 70, which is the statutory retirement age for
serving Justices of the Supreme Court.
She becomes the third Justice of the Supreme to retire this year following the retirement of Justices Visa Akoto-Bamfo and Sophia Adinyira.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
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