Elmina (C/R), Sept. 29, GNA - The Chief Justice Mr Justice George Acquah on Monday urged the members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to ensure that while educating the people on the need to reject military take over, they should also ensure that the Government of the day "is on track and ruling in accordance with the Constitution". Mr Justice Acquah made the call when he opened a three-day 2003/2004 National Annual Conference of the GBA at Elmina under the theme: "Consolidating Constitutionalism In Ghana: The Role Of The Legal Profession". The Chief Justice told the Lawyers that by virtue of their expertise it was their role as members of the legal profession to ensure the establishment of a State where the Constitution was operated faithfully and with responsibility and where the administration was generally efficient and incorrupt He further exhorted them to ensure that the rights of people were not trampled upon arbitrarily, and that the citizens' legitimate needs were catered for in good faith. He contended that, even though, the members of the GBA had so far done very well in their efforts at securing sound democratic system for the people of this country, they needed to maintain and deepen their defence of freedoms and rights of the people and the rule of law.
The Chief Justice reiterated his determination to build up the image of the Judiciary, improve and modernise the justice delivery system to make the adjudicating process transparent and to create a hard working bench and supporting staff dedicated and committed to bring quality justice to the doorsteps of the people. The National president of the GBA, Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi said the Association had noted with deep concern, mistrust, animosity and the unhealthy relationship existing between President John Agyekum Kufuor and Former President Jerry John Rawlings. He, therefore, called on the Council of State, religious bodies and other peace-loving bodies in the country, to strive to bring them together in the interest of the nation, saying "the cat and mouse relationship existing between them does not auger well for our nascent democracy".

Mr Adu-Gyamfi also appealed to political parties and the Electoral Commission to ensure that the 2004 General Election are conducted in a peaceful and free atmosphere. On media reportage on political issues, he echoed the need for the media to be circumspect in their reportage so as not to inflame passions to disturb the peace that Ghanaians were enjoying. There were goodwill messages from the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Ghana Medical Association (GMA) American Embassy and Donewell Insurance Company (DIC).

The Chief Justice reiterated his determination to build up the image of the Judiciary, improve and modernise the justice delivery system to make the adjudicating process transparent and to create a hard working bench and supporting staff dedicated and committed to bring quality justice to the doorsteps of the people. The National president of the GBA, Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi said the Association had noted with deep concern, mistrust, animosity and the unhealthy relationship existing between President John Agyekum Kufuor and Former President Jerry John Rawlings. He, therefore, called on the Council of State, religious bodies and other peace-loving bodies in the country, to strive to bring them together in the interest of the nation, saying "the cat and mouse relationship existing between them does not auger well for our nascent democracy".

Mr Adu-Gyamfi also appealed to political parties and the Electoral Commission to ensure that the 2004 General Election are conducted in a peaceful and free atmosphere. On media reportage on political issues, he echoed the need for the media to be circumspect in their reportage so as not to inflame passions to disturb the peace that Ghanaians were enjoying. There were goodwill messages from the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Ghana Medical Association (GMA) American Embassy and Donewell Insurance Company (DIC).