REMARKS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE GERTRUDE TORKORNOO, AT A SEND-OFF LUNCH FOR HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE NENE ABAYAATEYE OFOE AMEGATCHER, JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, ON TUESDAY, JULY 25 2023, AT ALISA HOTEL, ACCRA
Source: judicial_service_of_ghana
Date: 2023-08-08

REMARKS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE GERTRUDE TORKORNOO, AT A SEND-OFF LUNCH FOR HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE NENE ABAYAATEYE OFOE AMEGATCHER, JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, ON TUESDAY, JULY 25 2023, AT ALISA HOTEL, ACCRA My Lords Justices of the Supreme Court My Lords Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature The Judicial Secretary The National President of the Ghana Bar Association Members of the Judicial Council Members of the General Legal Council Our Celebrant, His Lordship Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher Family and Friends of Justice Amegatcher, especially Lady Jane Directors and Staff of the Judicial Service Distinguished Invited Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Good afternoon, Let me first thank the team that have put together this wonderful event. I also want to thank all who have made time to be with us today and to join us to honour Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher. Every time we gather for one of these occasions, I cannot help but feel the poignancy of the moment. I know this is a feeling that I share with all of our colleagues who have the privilege of serving our nation at the level of the Supreme Court. Since he joined in 2018, Justice Amegatcher has become a notable presence, and a strong voice, bringing his considerable experience and tremendous intelligence to the role. While much of that will not be known to the public, it is only those of us who sit in conference with him who will know the calming effect he exerts, the way he can cut through the mass of opinions to focus on the issues and the way that he is fully and completely animated by an unquenchable desire to afford every citizen in this country their birth right of justice. In the course of his distinguished career, Justice Nene Amegatcher exuded the codes of excellence that he clearly lives by. It was his record in both the private and public spheres that placed him in good stead for his role on the Bench. A private legal career with a record of distinction at the Ghana Bar spanning nearly four decades culminating in the position of Managing Partner of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, National President, Ghana Bar Association between 2012 and 2015, Senior Lecturer at the Ghana School of Law teaching Advocacy and Legal Ethics and other Alternative Dispute Resolution courses, Vice Chair of the African Regional Forum of the International Bar Association from 2015-2017. These are but a few of the several hats that Justice Amegatcher has worn in an active and fruitful professional career. It was only a matter of course, then, that such a capable and outstanding advocate would come to serve on the nation’s apex court. On behalf of all who have served with him, I want to convey our immense appreciation for the privilege of working with Justice Nene Amegatcher. Not only have we benefitted from his professional acumen, his Christian virtue has always shown through and brightened our work and our path. What may not be known is how much Justice Amegatcher poured himself out in the service of the nation in different capacities. His work on the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, Chair of the Virtual Courts Committee, and his co-ordination between his vast networks around the world. I want Justice Amegatcher’s service to remind us all about the duty we owe our nation. History teaches us that in moments of social fragility, what will get us through is the service of patriots. What we need now are people who think of the common good, do not complain about their own difficulties but work diligently for the collective survival. Ghana needs this today. The entire world needs people like that today. Justice Amegatcher was one of them and if we are to prevail, we must all of us, on and off the Bench, aspire to be more like that. I must veer off and speak on my private knowledge of this beautiful brother of mine But Justice Amegatcher has done his bit and bid him farewell we must, no matter how reluctantly. I cannot thank you enough for your service, Sir. You have brought justice to many of your compatriots, expanded freedom and helped make our nation and its democracy safer and more enduring. After so many years of dutiful service to the law, you deserve a period of rest and my prayer is that the Lord will make it a long and peaceful one. Thank you all and I wish you the best. Prev Next