Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - President John Atta Mills on Monday said government was committed to ensuring equity before the law and would partner the Ghana Bar Association (GB) to ensure justice and peace for national development.

He said the two bodies must see each other as friends and complement efforts to lift the nation to better and improved levels of development and standard of living.

President Mills said this when a delegation from the Executive Council of the GBA paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu. The delegation, led by the President of the GJA, Mr Frank Beecham, congratulated the President on his assumption of office. The visit complemented a congratulatory letter earlier sent to the President who is himself a lawyer and a member of the Association. The President said despite occasional disagreements, the government and the Ghana Bar Association needed to build forces to ensure justice and peace in the interest of national development and to ensure a better Ghana. He spoke about talents in the association and said the government would confer with it so that both would be able to chart a common path that would ultimately be to the benefit of the people of Ghana.

President Mills said some of the members of the Association had contributed to his success and with a note of appreciation, mentioned Mr J. K. Agyemang, a member of the delegation, who he described as his teacher. The President assured Ghanaians of a brighter future and called for all efforts to ensure that justice was done to everyone irrespective of backgrounds.

Mr Beecham said the GBA knew President Mills would deliver and wished him all the best.

He also said President Mills was committed to the rule of law and assured President Mills' of the association's support so that decency would be respected in the administration of justice. He said the Association was committed to ensuring the prevalence of the rule of law, and was available as stakeholders to establish the rule of law in Ghana.

The Association invited President Mils to its next conference to be held in Tamale.