Ghana’s former Chief Justice, Sophia A. B. Akuffo, has called for a bold return to moral values, civic responsibility, and a culture of excellence, warning that the country’s democratic foundations are at risk without a deeper ethical commitment.
Addressing the 25th anniversary of the Methodist University of Ghana, Justice Akuffo delivered a stirring keynote lecture titled “Morality, Excellence and Service in Sustainable Democratic Governance.” Her message was clear: true democracy goes beyond the periodic casting of ballots or the creation of institutions—it demands character.
“We must breathe moral life into our Constitution,” she stated, urging both citizens and leaders to view governance as a calling grounded in ethics, not a transactional pursuit of power. Her words resonated through the university hall as she questioned the sustainability of a democratic system that tolerates corruption, mediocrity, and impunity.
With her trademark poise and legal insight, Justice Akuffo painted a picture of a democracy at a crossroads. She warned that a disconnection between governance and moral leadership could reduce politics to a self-serving exercise, alienating the very people it claims to serve.
Her call was not just to leaders, but to every Ghanaian. “Leadership is stewardship, not ownership,” she declared, adding that public service must always be measured by its contribution to the common good.
The former Chief Justice, whose career spans decades of legal reform and public service, appealed directly to the nation’s youth. She urged them to reject the normalization of mediocrity and to embrace discipline, integrity, and a sense of duty as the pillars of their future.
“You are the engine of transformation,” she said to the students. “But transformation cannot come without values. We need a new generation of leaders who are not just competent but also upright.”
Justice Akuffo’s remarks come at a time of growing public frustration over the performance of democratic institutions and leadership in Ghana. Her speech was both a diagnosis and a call to action—a challenge to build a democracy that is not only procedural but principled.
Throughout her address, she returned to the idea that democracy is sustained not merely by systems, but by the moral fabric of its people. In her view, good governance begins with good character, and ethical leadership must be nurtured at all levels of society.
As Ghana celebrates milestones in education and democratic progress, Justice Akuffo’s message was a sobering reminder that the future depends not just on how the nation votes, but on how it lives its values.
For many in attendance, her words echoed a deep longing for a public culture that prizes accountability over privilege, discipline over disorder, and service over self-interest.
Her closing appeal left a lasting impression: “Let us not lose our way. Let us anchor our democracy in morality, strive for excellence, and serve with honour.”
In a country often caught between political rhetoric and public frustration, Justice Akuffo’s voice rang clear—a call to rebuild the soul of the nation, one value at a time.
