Requiem Mass for CJ held

Accra, April 27, GNA - A Requiem Mass was held on Thursday for the late Chief Justice, Mr. Justice George Kingsley Acquah, at the Ridge Church in Accra.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Begyina Hughes and the former Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, prominent legal practitioners, government officials, politicians, the Clergy, family members and other sympathisers attended the service.


The mortal remains of the late Chief Justice bore by pier-bearers from the 49 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Army was placed in the Chapel of the Church about 16:10 hours for the service conducted by the Most Reverend (Dr) Justice Ofei Akrofi, Archbishop of the Province of West Africa and Anglican Bishop of Accra. Preaching at the service, The Venerable Joseph Lankwei Lamptey, Archdeacon of Accra North Anglican Church, noted the contribution of the Church towards civilization.


He cautioned society against under estimating the influence of Christianity to make life worth living, saying, "Christian influence in society stands out, it is a force to reckon with". The Rev Father Lamptey said, "A true Christian would speak against injustice and oppression, in defence of the poor and the marginalized in society".


He expressed his respect for Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa for the courageous manner he joined forces with other Christians to speak against the oppressive regime then in that country. "All their effort paid off as it contributed in no small way to the fall of apartheid with South African Christians fighting the apartheid regime at the peril of their lives," he said. The Venerable Lamptey said it was against this background that he paid tribute to the late Chief Justice.


The Venerable Lamptey stated that when the history of Ghana's judiciary is written, the late Justice G. K. Acquah would be remembered for his rare courage in fighting corruption that had crept into the justice system.


"The Christianity in the late CJ was on hand to fight corruption in all its manifestations in the Judiciary, amidst insults and hecklings, some of which allegedly came from his own learned friends," Father Lamptey said.

"The CJ braved the odds and therefore, remained focussed in his avowed aim to restore public confidence in the judiciary, he said and added that, "he lived up to his task of a Christian Jurist, whose Christian principles had a strong influence on his legal profession". "Whatever he did and wherever he went as the CJ of the country, he held aloft the banner of Christ".


"The late Justice Acquah's public speeches reflected his Godly approach", he stated citing George Washington to buttress his assertion that "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible".


The Venerable Lamptey noted that it was the desire of the late CJ to serve the Church as a Priest, because he was in the Ordination Track, having studied Theology at the Trinity Theological Seminary. He remarked that if every Christian would bring their Christian influence to bear on their secular professions like Justice Acquah did, the world would be a better place to live, since Christianity was not only about worship in the Church on Sundays.


In a tribute, Mr. Andrew Lokko, Chairman of the Ridge Church Council, said the late CJ contributed enormously to the peace and development of the Church, adding, "He was a distinguished lawyer and a staunch Christian".


Mr. Ben Donkor, Chairman of the Men's Fellowship, which the CJ was a member, said the late Justice Acquah contributed constructively at meetings and his views were respected, describing him "as a man of great humility and a perfect gentleman".


He who was born on March 6, 1942 in Sekondi in the Western Region and succeeded Justice E.K. Wiredu as the Chief Justice on June 20, 2003. Justice Acquah died on Sunday August 25 this year at the 37 Military Hospital from cancer. He was 65 years old. The late C.J. was married with six children. 27 April 07