By Joyce Danso
Accra, April 17, GNA – Former Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo has called for the new law on legal education to prioritize quality over quantity in the legal profession.
Speaking at the launch of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court of Ghana, she emphasised that while the law should foster an adequate number of lawyers, quality assurance must take precedence.
“Now that there is a new law coming out, let us hope that it is going to strike a proper balance so that there is going to be quality assurance while at the same time giving the numbers. But if you must sacrifice anything, sacrifice the numbers,” she said.
Justice Akuffo made these remarks at the Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon, where she joined in marking the sesquicentennial milestone of the country’s highest court.
The theme of the celebration was “The Supreme Court of Ghana@150: Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Defining the Future.”
The anniversary honours the Supreme Court’s 150 years of institutional continuity, service, and excellence, since its establishment on March 31, 1876.
Justice Akuffo underscored that quality should never be sacrificed for quantity in legal education.
“Quality justice is more valuable than ‘a thousand, ten thousand, and millions of lawyers who are of law quality,'” she stressed.
The former Chief Justice also stated that producing quality lawyers was key to ensuring a robust judiciary, as they would eventually become “quality judges” the nation could be proud of.
On the impact of modern technologies, including ICT and Artificial Intelligence (AI), she urged that the judiciary must embrace innovation and adapt to technological advancements.
“We must make sure that with AI, every aspect of technology, the judiciary must adapt, innovate and we must re-imagine constantly how the judiciary can do best,” she said.
Justice Akuffo also pledged to support the 150th anniversary celebrations and appealed for continued collaboration with stakeholders to support the judiciary’s role in the nation’s development.
Professor Mike Aaron Ocquaye, former Speaker of Parliament and special guest at the event, urged judges to act with integrity, likening their role to that of God’s representation on Earth.
“We ought to be careful in our honourable profession and stand above corruption,” he said.
Prof. Ocquaye commended former Chief Justices who confronted judicial corruption, referencing the notorious Anas Aremeyaw Expose.
He also endorsed the introduction of the judiciary’s morning and afternoon shift system, which he said could accelerate the justice process, citing India’s successful implementation.
Regarding the tribunal system, Prof. Ocquaye appealed to the government to preserve regular courts and avoid using tribunals as substitutes.
He stressed the need for the public to recognise the Supreme Court as the ultimate authority in Ghana’s judicial system.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey