Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Speech on the Occasion of a visit to the Supreme Court and Law School of Ghana
Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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It is a great pleasure for me to be here today in the presence of such eminent members of Ghana’s judiciary and students who are already making a name for themselves in the areas of justice and law.
As governor general of Canada, I am particularly touched to be standing here, as the first Head of State to speak at the Supreme Court of Ghana. Such an honour!
For many years now, Canada has been active accompanying Ghana, the Black Star, in its efforts to consolidate democracy, foster the emergence of civil society, and eradicate poverty.
I also understand that you have undertaken an ambitious project to establish a transparent, accessible, and impartial judiciary in which all Ghanaians can have confidence. It is an honour for Canada to join you in this vital endeavour.
Certainly, many challenges remain as you work to create a fair and open justice system that is accessible to all.
A democratic society can only flourish when the rights and liberties of all of its citizens are safeguarded. Judicial institutions play a crucial role in this regard by protecting citizens and enabling them to participate actively in public life.
Having worked for several years in my previous life promoting the rights of women and minorities, I know that judicial systems have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that the most vulnerable segments of society receive fair and equitable treatment under the law.
In the words of his Lordship, Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah, “the concept of justice (…) is not confined to the judiciary alone. It is the trust and confidence of the people in the responsiveness of the court system to deliver fearless and impartial justice.”
So Canada is proud to accompany you in your efforts at judicial reform. After all, we both share a common law tradition that makes our collaboration almost natural!
The partnerships between the National Judicial Institute of Canada, CUSO, and the Judicial Service of Ghana in the area of reform really testify to the strong bonds that characterize relations between our two countries.
In fact, through your efforts, you are really helping to forge long-lasting friendships between Ghanaians and Canadians, above and beyond the ties that connect our two governments.
I am delighted that Mr. Jean-Marc Mangin, Executive Director of CUSO, joined the Canadian delegation, as he is playing a major role in facilitating this exchange program.
I must admit that I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences and those of your Canadian partners, as well as learning about the challenges that the Ghanaian judiciary faces.
I thank you for inviting me to join you today, and wish you continued success in your efforts to build an effective judicial system.
