Don’t Go For Greener Pasture, Stay And Build Ghana - CJ

Ms Sophia A. Akuffo, the Chief Justice, has appealed to the youth to disabuse their minds of travelling to other countries to look for greener pastures but rather they should stay and help build the country.

Chief Justice said the countries that the youth were looking up to, were built by their own nationals and not migrants.

“The nations that we look jealously on were all at one point or the other just like us. The standard of living that we long to go and experience is as a result of years of unrelenting hard work, selfless dedication and unflagging patriotism.

“Had some people not dedicated themselves to building those countries, they would have nothing for us to envy today.’’

Ms Akuffo was speaking at the 11th Chief Justice Annual mentoring programme held at the Supreme Court in Accra on the theme: ‘’I pledge myself to the Service of Ghana.’’

The mentoring programme, which brought together 10 schools, is meant to inspire young people to take up roles in the judicial sector, instil in them a sense of duty to their nation as well as be minded of their responsibility to take up the mantle of nation building.

This year’s programme gave students and some head porters the opportunity to ask questions on child marriage, corruption, appointment of judges, whether or not a hearing impaired could become a judge or lawyer.

The Chief Justice said recent events had made Western and other countries less tolerant to migrants, adding that ‘’we can only arrive at the conclusion that our only option is to build our country and we can only do so by pledging ourselves fully and totally to it”.

She said the country currently needed diligent practitioners to protect the rights of citizens, mediate in conflicts and settle disputes.

Ms Akuffo told the students that in any profession that they found themselves, their preoccupation should be to serve the nation with integrity and wholehearted commitment to the country’s growth.

“Should you choose any of the million other ways in which you can serve this country, you will need to apply the same principle of patriotism and ethical conduct.”