The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as an expression of the hospitality and warm embrace his jurisdiction exudes, hosted lawyers from across the country to a royal dinner on the evening of Monday at his official residence.
Seven hundred Ghanaian lawyers led by the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) wined and dined with His Majesty after the official opening of the Association’s 2024/25 General Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The dinner had in attendance traditional authorities within Asanteman, the outgoing National President of the GBA, Lawyer Yaw Acheampong Boafo, the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, Senior and Junior Lawyers and many others.
The guests were treated to a variety of local dishes and later hooked onto their feet by beautiful tunes by the Mesduah Band.
Honorary Membership
The Bar used the opportunity to present an insignia to the Asantehene to concretise the honorary membership which was conferred on him 25 years ago.
Lawyer Boafo explained that in 1999 when Otumfuo was conferred with the honour, it was without any concrete evidence to represent and affirm it.
“In my conference speech, I indicated that on 27th September 1999, honoured His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu with honorary membership but at that time, they never gave him any certificate or any insignia to represent that so the current National Executives and the General Council of the Bar headed by me..have decided that the time has come for us to signify that what our fathers did really meant something to us.”
The plaque presented to him had the inscription, “Presented to His Majesty in recognition of your honorary membership of the Ghana Bar Association conferred on you on Monday, 27th September 1999”.
“Your Majesty, in your jubilee year, your grandsons and sons present to you. Now there is something to testify that you are indeed one of us,” he added.
Farewell
Otumfuo in his remarks patted Lawyer Boafo for his “sterling” leadership over the Association in the past three years
He observed that his tenure was more successful.
“Thank you, Yaw, for your sterling leadership and for being a credit to the Ashanti bar. We will continue to draw on your energy, insight and your devotion to both your profession and your people.”
He assured his yet-to-be-determined successor of his unflinching support.
“Whoever has the honour of taking the baton from you can be assured of our continued support and our unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the administration of justice.”
Denigrating of Judiciary
Otumfuo further condemned the incessant denigration of the judicial system and urged political leaders, journalists, social commentators and civil society organisations to desist, positing that the law operates within a social context and is shaped by the political values of the time.
“Somebody will always be responsible for the appointment of justices but the oath the judge swears is never to the individual who appointed them but to the constitution of the land. Once enrobed, his or her duty is to interpret the laws without fear or favour, affection or ill will. The evidence I see from the Judiciary service is that no stone is being left unturned to enhance its capacity to deliver justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”
Referencing Kofi Kinata’s “Susuka” and popular Ghanaian saying “Yɛrenya Mo Ayɛ” to wit, “We’d want to be like you”, he noted many countries envy Ghana’s system.
“My earnest plea to the people of Ghana, especially our political leaders, journalists, social commentators and civil society advocates, is to think deeply before denigrating the system. We have a judiciary that may not be perfect but it deserves credit for the positive efforts.”
Lower Mistrust over Free and Fair Elections
Additionally, the King encouraged political parties to develop confidence in the Electoral Commission (EC) as well as the electoral process to ease tension in the lead-up to the elections.
“So here again, I will appeal for a lowering of mistrust. Heightened vigilance is of course necessary but we need to restore confidence between contesting political parties and candidates and the electoral commission.”
His Majesty suggested the Association invite the candidates of the leading political parties to the ongoing conference to seek their commitment to the nation in the pursuit of a peaceful campaign and the use of due process for the resolution of any unforeseen incidents.
Galamsey Requires Collective Efforts
The Asantehene touched on the issue of illegal mining in the country, asserting that it is an environmental enemy that must be rooted out.
“Galamsey is now an Environmental Enemy for the nation. What could be more serious for any people than to have their entire water supply system at risk,” he said and shared his personal experience with the current state of the River Pra.
He is sure collective efforts of all sections of society would do the magic.
“I think you should find space during this conference, to set up a panel to undertake a quick tour of the communities where this scourge is most prevalent to see the extent of the crisis we face and hopefully deliberate on how the law should respond. As I see it, if an individual poisons the water supply of a community he will be liable for severe consequences under the law. What does the law do when one pours mercury into the same water supply knowing fully well it can kill?”
“To do nothing is no longer an option. The Bar Association, the Medical Association and the universities, in particular, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology should get together and carve a new path to deal with this emergency.”
Source: Manhyia Palace
