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0 The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has issued a clarion call to Ghana’s future lawyers to pursue excellence not only in legal mastery but in ethical leadership.
Speaking in a video message at the 20th Law Week celebration of the Law Students’ Union of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr. Oppong Nkrumah described the law as a moral calling, not just a profession—urging students to be “unashamedly ethical” in a world where the boundaries of right and wrong are increasingly contested.
“The law is not a shield to protect the powerful or a sword to punish the weak,” he declared. “It is a scale—balanced. And to balance that scale, we need men and women of character.”
Themed “Law With Honour: Shaping an Ethical Legal Generation for the Global Market,” the celebration gathered faculty, students, and dignitaries in the KNUST Faculty of Law auditorium. Mr. Yaw Boafo, former President of the Ghana Bar Association, also graced the occasion.
Oppong Nkrumah’s message was clear: global competitiveness begins with local integrity, he told them, stirring conviction and purpose among the next generation of legal professionals.
Grounded in Values, Global in Vision
While recognising the increasingly international nature of the legal profession, the former Information Minister underscored the importance of holding fast to timeless values: diligence, accuracy, transparency, and moral courage.
“Today’s legal professionals must operate across jurisdictions and cultures—yet still remain true to the ethical codes that define the nobility of our profession,” he said, urging them that “Practising with honour is not just a personal virtue—it’s a competitive advantage.”
Drawing inspiration from respected jurists such as Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe and referencing Supreme Court nominee Justice Kweku Ackaah-Boafo’s self-description as “unashamedly ethical,” Oppong Nkrumah challenged students to internalise truthfulness and credibility as their greatest assets.
He offered a four-point blueprint for ethical excellence:
- Excellence, which he defined as the persistent pursuit of the highest standard, rather than perfection,
- Diligence– expressed through daily discipline and preparation,
- Integrity– the unbending moral compass never to be traded for fame, fortune, or favour, and
- Industry– the hunger to learn, evolve, and apply skills across sectors.
Oppong Nkrumah recounted the story of a young lawyer who lost a case after citing a repealed statute from an outdated source—emphasising that accuracy in law is not optional but fundamental. “A pastor does not misquote the Bible,” he said pointedly. “Neither should a lawyer misrepresent the law.”
The MP also cautioned against the erosion of institutional trust, noting the justice system’s challenges, including delays and corruption. Yet, he stressed that critique must stem from a place of commitment, not contempt.
“Reform must come from love, not scorn,” he urged. “When you criticise judicial inconsistency, back it with data, analysis, and reverence for the court.”
He encouraged transparency in affiliations and motives, using lawyer and statesman Sam Okudzeto’s forthrightness as a model: “Your strength lies not in neutrality but in declared convictions with unwavering integrity.”
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who has a distinguished career also in media, advised students not to limit their aspirations to traditional legal roles. He highlighted the growing demand for legal minds in diverse fields—from journalism to corporate leadership.
“Do not box yourselves in,” he said. “Be open to good counsel and explore opportunities far and near.”
The MP also left the future legal luminaries with a stirring reminder drawn from scripture: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open” (Luke 8:17).
“You are the future of Ghana’s justice system,” he said. “Walk with honour. Speak with truth. Serve with diligence. And lead with courage.”
