Accra (Greater Accra) 19 July '99

The Very Rev Anthony Beeko, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church, on Saturday called on Ghanaians to resolve to make a sharp break with any life of laxity and indiscipline and strive to set examples worthy of emulation.

Reverend Beeko was preaching at a church service at the Presbyterian Church of Resurrection in Accra in memory of the late Chief Justice and President of the second republic of Ghana, Mr Justice Edward Akufo Addo.

Mr Justice Akufo Addo died in July 1979 at the age of 73.

He said Mr Justice Akufo Addo was a staunch Christian, whose mission to propagate the ideals of Christ did not leave him as a lawyer and judge.

Rev. Beeko said the country needs people like Justice Akufo Addo who would go about their daily duties with a quality that influences society.

The former president proved to be a man of determination, "with the courage of his convictions in situations which demand more than cautious platitudes.

"Those who have access to his judgements will bear testimony to the fact that he would not trim his wings to suit any political climate, because his ideal in life was to represent the reasoned voice of Christian conscience in matters affecting society", he said.

"If we want Ghana to develop and continue to produce people of high calibre to run world bodies, then a life of upright character and desire to achieve excellence in everything should be an indispensable ingredient in our recipe for training."

Tributes were read to honour the late president. Professor A. A. Kwapong, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, described Justice Akufo Addo as a true nationalist and patriot dedicated to the service of his nation, adding that he "will occupy an assured and honoured place in the roll call of our national heroes when the history of modern Ghana comes to be written".

"It is now widely acknowledged that he is one of the greatest jurists that this country ever produced, in terms of his professional mastery of law, clarity of analysis and brilliance of advocacy."

He said as the nation stands on the brink of the third millennium with all that it portends, "this is the opportune time for us to take a fresh look at our past before and after our attainment of national independence, reassess those times and ... arrive at a clearer appreciation of the lives of those nationalist and statesmen who played a crucial rule in the independent movement".

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa and son of the late president, said on behalf of his siblings that their father was a stern Presbyterian who, nevertheless, knew that "humour was necessary to preserve balance and perspective".

This made him a refreshing, engaging person to talk to, he added.

He said he encouraged them to have their own thoughts and express them freely, provided they were intelligent.

Other personalities at the service included Mr Justice F .K Apaloo, Chief Justice, from 1977 to 1986, Mr K. N. Arkaah, former vice president, Mr J.H.

Mensah, Minority leader in parliament, Honourable Kofi Attoh, Deputy General Secretary of NDC, and other parliamentarians.

Mr Justice Akufo Addo, one of the Big Six, left behind a wife, Mrs Adeline Akufo Addo, and four children, who organised the service.