Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has eulogized Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for her strong advocacy in upholding and maintaining dignity and integrity of the legal profession in Ghana.
President of GBA, Anthony Forson, in a thanksgiving service held in honour of Her Ladyship, Justice Sophia Akuffo, at the Kaneshie Presbyterian Church, praised her for exemplary leadership display during her tenure as Chief Justice.
A citation read in the CJ’s honour by Mr Forson read as follows:
Your Ladyship Sophia A. B. Akuffo, your strong advocacy with respect to upholding and maintaining standards, professional ethics, dignity and integrity in the legal profession is worthy of mention. You marshalled the closure of dilapidated court structures which is evidence of your deep desire to ensure that the places of justice delivery in this country are dignified.
During your long career as a Lawyer and a Judge, you exhibited exceptional leadership qualities which are evident for all to see. You displayed leadership in your relationship with the Bar and Bench.
For the aforementioned sterling qualities, exemplary leadership, distinguished and dedicated service to Ghana, Africa and the Legal Profession, the Ghana Bar Association hereby confers on you the meritorious honour of Outstanding and Dedicated Performance, Commitment to the Legal Profession and the Administration of Justice; Patriotism in your Judicial Career as a Judge; Loyalty and Devotion to Ghana and the African Continent,” the citation read.
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Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, in her reply to the eulogy by the GBA said her relationship with the Bar over the years has been “bitter sweet.”
“But that is how the best relationships normally are because without friction, you don’t get movement, we able to move only because of the friction between our feet. I am very grateful to the Ghana Bar and to Mr. Forson for his kind words. From the sidelines, I am still going to be very critical about standards because as for standards, we must never let them drop,” she posited.
District Minister for the Presbyterian Church in Tema North District, Rev. Dr. George Kwapong, admonished the outgoing Chief Justice and the congregation of judges, lawyers, and Judicial Service staff to offer their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and live according to the tenets of scripture as has been the story of Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo is to retire from the Judiciary and from the Bench on December 20, 2019, as she attains the age of seventy (70), the retirement age for serving Justices of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo was called to the Bar on October 2, 1975 and later appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Jerry John Rawlings in November, 1995 and has since served at the Supreme court to date.