The Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has established Justice Club in Second Cycle Schools to help increase public education, knowledge and appreciation of the law.
According to her, the law interacts with every aspect of human life and a reason its appreciation is crucial for nation building.
Her ladyship (HL) Justice Torkornoo, conducting her maiden swearing-in of the Justice Club’s executive of Chemu Senior High Technical School in Tema on Friday, said the programme would motive the new generation to pursue a career in law.
Particular, she noted that the Justice Club has a sole vision of instilling an appreciation of constitutionality and legality, and how to interact with the tenets of legality as the law daily surrounds people.
“This ranges from the legality surrounding a simple act like crossing the street to the intricacies of a verbal or written contract, including a mundane action such as buying of food,” she said.
Members of the Justice Club would benefit from orientation on the rule of law, navigate the complex yet interesting world of the law, and appreciate the values the law affords to those who have an encounter with it.
She also congratulated the club’s executives for having won the trust of their members to elect them as their leaders.
The club initially started as an Annual Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme by the first female Chief Justice of Ghana HL Justice Georgina Wood.
The Annual Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme, which is a day’s event, draws students from various schools to participate in the programme.
Justice Torkornoo has, therefore, taken it a step further to make the mentorship programme a lifelong learning process in second cycle schools.
There will be seasoned mentors from the bar and bench to lead, inspire and guide the young minds in this new endeavour.
The Chief Justice also left an indelible mark on the hearts of the students, by personally swearing in their executives.
Justice Prof Oliver Anku-Tsede, Chair of the Chief Justice Mentorship Programme, rehashed that the programme started some 16 years ago to encourage students to take interest in the legal profession.
She reiterated that club will provide more than one-day annual event to ensure adequate importation of knowledge to aid in the development of young and hardworking young adults.
The justice of the Court of Appeal added that Chemu School is part of the six schools selected for the pilot programme.
The students were reminded that membership of the club goes beyond the school to include others out of school such as head potters (Kayayee).
The executives of the club were once again congratulated and emboldened to handle the privileges and responsibilities that will accompany their leadership with the principles of fairness, equality and justice.
Mrs Vincentia Anin-Agyei, head teacher of the school, recounted being taught decades ago by the Chief Justice and her father, Mr. Sackey at the Achimota School.
She could not hide her excitement with the introduction of the club, which would encourage students to read more.
According to her, the rudiments of justice involved rational thinking and having a sense of judgement.
