A couple of days ago, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), in the company of Attorney-General and Justice Minister Betty Mould-Iddrisu, called on President John Evans Atta Mills.

The host and guests exchanged pleasantries in a manner which was interesting and heartwarming to behold.

President Mills enjoined the GBA to ensure justice for all irrespective of the social status of those who need it.

The perception that justice can only be accessed by the rich is one that must be eradicated by the GBA, the President rightly admonished.

Surely, justice for all is a dream which must be ensured by the GBA by virtue of their special calling.

Their vocation, it is our belief, can impact positively upon the lives of all in the community, which is why it holds a special position.

What the President basically called upon his guests to do was to ensure that the contents of our coat of arms, ‘Freedom and Justice’, are adhered to by all means so that the citizenry get the assurance that no matter their social standing, they would not be discriminated against.

They can also look up to the bench to administer justice no matter the repercussions of the deliveries.

The GBA is twice lucky, having had two of their members occupy the highest office of the land in succession- former President John Agyekum Kufuor and President John Evans Atta Mills.

The President’s call for the application of the rule of law is auspicious, given the cacophony of persons in government or associated with it asking for outright jailing of former public office holders without due process.

Fortunately, it appears these persons are not having their way, given the robustness and resilience of the judiciary in the country.

Gradually, good governance and reason are overshadowing the machinations of the hawks, thanks to the judiciary.

Considering what some judges suffered at the hands of hotheaded politicians in a previous government, there is cause for trepidation when the same voices which preceded the murder of some members of the bench some years ago resume their bloodcurdling rhetoric.

Developments on the bench in recent times encourage us to feel that Ghana, one-time Star of Africa, shall glow again.

The recent rulings on Hon Osei Adjei and the immediate Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports call for a non-partisan jubilation.

The overzealous personalities who are hell bent on rocking the boat of democracy would fail in their dreams because most Ghanaians would prefer a government of the people to arbitrariness.

We may be experiencing economic difficulties as a nation but with perseverance and a resolve to let the rule of law work, we shall reach the Promised Land of unfettered democracy.

Those pushing for revolutionary style governance and the brazen use of state powers will over time be reduced to spent forces, toothless and unable to go beyond barking.

The journey has not been an easy fraught, as it is with myriad challenges. It is gratifying though to note that a section of Ghanaians are bent on having the rule of law remain as a cornerstone of our democratic practice.

We are also gladdened by the implicit assurance that there is one institution to which we can turn for redress when our human rights are violated through arbitrariness and the like.

There is no denying the fact when the judiciary is compromised and reduced to a tool of the executive to manipulate, democracy would have suffered a fatal blow.

That is not what the country and her people need now.


Source: Daily Guide