Retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba has called for a return to integrity, humility and principled leadership in Ghana’s public life, warning that manipulation, opportunism and partisan politics are undermining the country’s democratic institutions.
Delivering the Justice D. F. Annan Memorial Lecture in Parliament on Thursday, Justice Atuguba paid glowing tribute to the late statesman, describing him as a model public servant whose commitment to justice and the rule of law remains unmatched.
“When I’m called to serve the public, I personally feel that I’m the property of the state,” Justice Atuguba said, stressing that public office is a responsibility owed to citizens rather than a privilege.
He described Justice Daniel Francis Annan as a man of “quality, dedication, principle, integrity and commitment to the welfare of his countrymen,” noting that he distinguished himself as a lawyer, judge, legislator and member of the executive.
Justice Atuguba said Annan’s legal brilliance was evident early in his judicial career, recalling that two of his judgments as a Circuit Court judge were selected for publication in the Ghana Law Reports an uncommon achievement for a judge at that level.
“He was absolutely humble, a man of the people in every respect,” he said.
The retired Supreme Court judge contrasted Annan’s judicial record with what he described as declining standards within sections of the judiciary.
“Some of the judges we had were very good, very few. Others were the opposite of judges, and it is a great lamentation that we were forced to call them justices instead of injustices,” he remarked.
Justice Atuguba praised Annan’s uncompromising commitment to the rule of law, recounting an instance in which the late statesman reportedly insisted that the law should take its course after his own son became involved in criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Turning to politics, Justice Atuguba lamented what he described as increasing partisanship and the pursuit of political office for personal gain.
“Manipulation, opportunism, manoeuvring and connections pull the nation down, and everybody is bound to suffer from it in one way or the other,” he said.
He argued that Ghana’s two major political parties often focus more on winning power than advancing the national interest.
“The sole objective… is to pull [the other party] down, come back to power and share the goodies of office,” he said.
Justice Atuguba, however, maintained that “all is not lost,” praising some contemporary public officials whom he believes have demonstrated integrity and independence.
Without regard to political affiliation, he commended politician Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, describing her as “a woman of principle, dedication and integrity” whose conduct in public life deserved emulation.
Justice Atuguba questioned the continuous expansion of Parliament, arguing that increasing the number of constituencies places unnecessary financial burdens on the country.
He welcomed recommendations from the ongoing constitutional review process to retain the current number of parliamentary seats.
The retired judge also reflected extensively on Justice Annan’s role in Ghana’s democratic transition during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era.
He said Annan earned the confidence of former Head of State Jerry John Rawlings through humility, consensus-building and principled leadership, particularly as Chairman of the National Commission for Democracy, where he helped lay the foundation for Ghana’s return to constitutional rule.
According to Justice Atuguba, Annan believed democratic governance could be achieved without excesses and worked to encourage open political discourse during the transition period.
He urged today’s public officials, lawyers and judges to study the lives and judgments of distinguished legal figures such as Justice D. F. Annan and Justice Azu Crabbe, saying Ghana’s future depends on restoring integrity, courage and fidelity to the Constitution.
“We need the days of Annan and Azu Crabbe,” Justice Atuguba concluded. “These were people committed to true justice.”
By Evelyn Tengmaa
