Help consolidate peace in the country - CJ

Accra, June 27, GNA - Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice, on Monday underscored the need for traditional rulers to unite their people to help consolidate peace in the country. He said as opinion leaders, chiefs had a role to give advice and direction to political leaders to assist them in governing the nation. Mr Justice Acquah made the call when he accompanied Mr William Blair, senior brother of Mr Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, during a courtesy call on members of the Ga Traditional Council at the Ga Mantse's Palace in Accra.

Mr Blair, a lawyer of international repute and a lecturer at the London School of Economics, arrived in the country at the weekend at the invitation of the Judicial Service to deliver this year's Martyrs' Day Memorial Lectures.

The lectures were instituted a couple of decades ago by the Ghana Bar Association in memory of three of their colleagues who, together with a retired Army Officer, were abducted from their homes and murdered in cold blood on June 30, 1982.

Mr Justice Acquah reiterated the call on Ghanaians to resist attempts by any group of people to destabilize the country.

"This country must not be allowed to be turned back into the old days."

He praised the visiting professor for his love, commitment and dedication to the African continent and thanked him for honouring the invitation to give the lectures.

Nii Adote Obour, Sempe Mantse and the Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council commended the G8 for writing off Ghana's debts and expressed the hope that they would continue to be of assistance to Ghanaians.

Mr Blair said he was impressed about the country's development in the last five years.

He presented an undisclosed amount of money towards the Ga Educational Fund after he had received a wooden sculpture from the Council.

Among dignitaries present at the function were Sheikh I. C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson, Mayor of Accra, Mr Kwami Tetteh, President of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Joe Ghartey, Deputy Attorney-General, and Mr Robert Quin, Acting British High Commissioner in Accra.