STATEMENT OF THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO ON THE OCCASION OF THE “MORAL VISION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT” CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST AT PENTECOST CONVENTION CENTRE (PCC), GOMOA FETTEH ON WEDNESDAY, 26TH JULY 2023
Source: judicial_service_of_ghana
Date: 2023-08-08

STATEMENT OF THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO ON THE OCCASION OF THE “MORAL VISION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT” CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST AT PENTECOST CONVENTION CENTRE (PCC), GOMOA FETTEH ON WEDNESDAY, 26 TH JULY 2023 His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, Former President of the Republic His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Former President of the Republic Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Hon. Akosua Frema Osei- Opare, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President Ministers of State The President of the National House of Chief Our Traditional Leaders (Chiefs and Queen mothers) Ministers of God Distinguished Invited Guests The Media I stand on all other existing Protocols In tandem with the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:9, I have not ceased to rejoice and give thanks to God since the day I heard of the convening of this national conference to consider the intertwining of ‘moral vision’ with ‘national development’ by the Church of Pentecost. I am particularly grateful for the kind invitation and the opportunity to contribute thought at this august gathering of the leadership of our beloved nation. When all legal principles and edicts have been shorn of their surrounding words and numbering, it is clear that the constitutional mandate given to the Judiciary in article 125 of the 1992 Constitution to administer justice, requires us to maintain and enforce the highest standards of ethical conduct in the nation on one hand, and uphold the innate need of the human soul for justice, on the other hand. This is a duty that the Judiciary shares with the Church as an institution. Justice is a sine qua non for peace, stability and quality of life in any nation. In words attributed to Pope John Paul II, “ If you want peace, work for justice ”. A nation that loses interest in the rule of law and delivery of justice, is one that sets itself up for destruction. Thus a quest for justice, and investment in building the pillars of justice in any nation, is a quest to ensure that prosperity will come to the people. For there can be no prosperity without peace, and there can be no peace unless people are assured that their rights will be upheld, and they will not be robbed of their entitlements. This, among other reasons, is the reason why I am exceptionally glad that this conference is addressing the matter of good governance and national development as a model enabled only by moral vision. Is morality subjective? Can the determination of what is right or wrong be a matter of individual perception, allowing each person or interest group to decide the ethical content and context from which they wish to treat others and be treated? Your Excellency and distinguished guest, I do not think so. The humble view of the Judiciary is that to the extent that the nation has chosen to order its affairs in accordance with the rule of law, we have chosen to define our moral context from the basket of legality given to us in the national Constitution, the statutes and enactments of parliaments, the rules and regulations of governing institutions, and customary law as part of the common law of Ghana and as provided for under Chapter 4 of the 1992 Constitution. To this extent, in the constitution of the national moral vision that is undertaken through the conversations and discussions of this conference, it is my fervent hope that all issues will be examined from the sure foundation of law, equity and good conscience. It is my conviction that in our kaleidoscope of ethnicities, belief systems, vocations and talents, the elements of the laws of Ghana, the rules of equity, and innate values that flow from good conscience can surely bind our hearts and minds together and assist us to arrive at a nationality accepted vision of morality. Such a vision can then drive the mind with which we walk, talk and work together, thus aiding us to uphold rights, give entitlements and insist on obligations, whether at home, workplaces or on the roads. It is my suggestion that this is the surest way to weave harmony and coherence into the diversities of our nation. In Isaiah 59:14-15, the prophet lamented: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off, for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. (15) So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice”. The Judiciary agrees with the Church that Ghana needs the grace, mercy and blessing of God. If that is so, then as a nation, we must work towards giving justice to all manner of persons, rich or poor, young and old, and do so without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So may God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong, as we seek and find a moral vision for national development. Thank you very much Prev Next