“My legal background has always informed my approach to governance”, says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He said the discipline, rigour, and fairness instilled in him by the legal profession had been integral to his role in public service since entering politics.
“When I transitioned to politics, it was the same zeal for justice and democracy that I carried from the courtroom”, he stated.
Nana Akufo-Addo said as President, he has worked to ensure that the principles of justice, transparency, and accountability were more than just ideals but were ingrained in the country’s governance structure.
He was speaking at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) annual conference held on Monday, September 9 in Kumasi under the theme, “Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life: The Role of the Legal Profession”.
Key attendees at the event included Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The President recounted his involvement in the pivotal legal battles of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly during the oppressive military regimes, which deepened his commitment to the rule of law and democracy.
“The Ghana Bar Association during those turbulent times stood as a bastion of resistance to authoritarian rule. We are the voice of the voiceless, the defenders of the oppressed and the guardians of the rule of law”, he added.
Reflecting on those challenging times, President Akufo-Addo noted that they reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, and that it was in the courtroom that he honed his skills as an advocate, gaining a deeper understanding of the law’s crucial role in safeguarding freedoms.
“My Presidency in many ways has been an extension of my legal career, a continuation of my devotion to the rule of law and the protection of the rights of all Ghanaians”, he stated.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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