Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 16 August 2005

Source: GNA

CJ commended for fighting corruption in the Judiciary

Dompoase (Ash), Aug. 16, GNA - A Minister of Religion on Sunday commended Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah for his bold efforts at fighting corruption in the judicial system of Ghana.

The Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese of the Methodist Church, the Rt. Rev Benjamin K. Asare, who made the commendation, noted that some Judges and Magistrates failed to stick to the truth and showed biases against the poor in their judgements.

Bishop Asare, who was preaching on the theme: "God's Love For All People" at the 75th anniversary and foundation stone laying of a new church building of the Dompoase Wesley Methodist Church at Dompoase in the Adansi North District stressed the need for judges to love all and not to be partial in their dispensation of justice. "Mr Justice Acquah needed to be praised for upholding the truth and condemning fraud in the courts and also castigating Judges and Magistrates, who collect monies from those whose cases are brought before them," he said.

The church had so far spent 150 million cedis on the new building with financial support from the First United Methodist Church in New York, USA.

Rt. Rev Asare said there were so many wars, injustice and hunger in Africa because "we have failed to recognise that every person of God was ones' neighbour."

According to the Bishop, there would be world peace if nations accepted that fundamental truth.

He referred to the support the New York Church was offering to the Dompoase Church and said it was an expression of God's love to his people. "I am deeply touched by such love for people." Bishop Asare challenged the church members to use the anniversary to renew their commitment to the work of God and also to intensify their evangelism.

Brother Leonard Finke and Sister Lorraine Bards of the New York Church, who were present at the function, said the church had so far contributed 1,840 dollars towards the new church building. Bro. Finke said one Madam Mary Oduro, who was on a visit to New York introduced the work of the Dompoase Methodist Church to them and "we became touched about it".

He pledged the church's continuous support stressing "my dream is to get workers from America to come and help build this church".