The Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has challenged Ghanaians to stop envying the Western world and all that they have, and focus on building Ghana for the sake of future generations.

Her ladyship made the call when she addressed the 11th edition of the Annual Lady Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme, held at the Supreme Court under the theme: “I Pledge Myself to the Service of Ghana”.

The Mentoring Programme, which was instituted by former Chief Justice Wood in 2007 and being continued by the current Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, seeks to expose students to the structure of the court system, as well as whip up their interest in the legal profession. The interaction amongst other things help the participants to fully appreciate and accept their civic roles and increase their desire for responsible leadership in the future.

The 11th edition had students from Akropong School for the Blind, Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf, Salem Senior High, Ghanata Senior High, O’Reilly Senior High, Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High, Kinbu Senior High, LA Presbyterian Senior High, and Tema Senior High Schools. Members of the Head Porters (Kayayei) Association of Ghana, also participated in the mentoring programme.

United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA since 2015, has identified and partnered with the CJ’s Mentoring Programme to increase access to rights-based integrated sexuality education and services among vulnerable girls, while improving legal literacy and girls’ empowerment to reduce their vulnerability.

As part of the event, a four-member panel comprising Supreme Court judge, Justice N.S. Gbadegbe as Chairperson, Mrs. Eduardo Ghartey, Ms. Josephine Nkrumah and Lawyer Evelyn Appiah, shared their rich life stories with the participants and urged them to pursue law as a future profession.

The mentees as part of the programme visited ten selected Circuit Courts to familiarize themselves with proceedings at the court. They also interacted with the judges who sat in the courts they visited. Amongst the judges were their Honours, judges Aboagye Tandoh, Abena Adjin-Doku, Eva Bannerman -Williams and Harriet Quaye.