Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo has spurred the country’s youth to be determined and move steadily towards their lifetime goals without allowing anything to sidetrack them.

She said they must be committed to such pursuits as future leaders and endeavour to uphold integrity and not to cut corners.

She noted that “ignorance is a disease,” and so they must study hard to increase their knowledge and broaden their horizon.

The Chief Justice was interacting with first and second cycle students in Kumasi, at a Student’s Mentorship Programme, held under her auspices, to expose them to the judicial system, whiles igniting in them the spirit of selflessness and patriotism.

"I Pledge Myself to the Service of Ghana," was the theme for the programme, which had been held in a number of regions in the country.

The Kumasi programme saw 100 students from five senior high and five junior high schools attending.

They were Kumasi Academy, Konongo Odumase, St Louis, Serwaa Nyarko Girls and Kumasi Anglican for the senior high category and Abraham Lincoln, Amakom Abrotia M/A, Konadu Yiadom M/A, St Theresa’s and St Anne’s Anglican for the junior high.

She urged the students to imbibe the morale in Ghana’s National Pledge and allow that to guide them as they grew into responsible adults.

Mr Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, counselled the students to shun all acts likely to jeopardise their future and work hard on their books to excel.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion were Madam Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, the Judicial Service Secretary, Nana Baffour Owusu Amankwaatiah VI, Bantamahene, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive and Mrs Mary Owusu Akyaw, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education.