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A Solemn state burial service for the late Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, a former Chief Justice, was held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday. |
It was attended by President J.A. Kufuor and his wife, Theresa; Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes; Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood; members of the Council of State; Ministers of State and Parliamentarians.
Also in attendance were political party leaders including the flagbe-arer of the National Democratic Congress, Professor J.E. Atta Mills, members of the Bench and the Bar, Service Commanders, the clergy and a cross-section of the public.
The casket containing the mortal remains of the former Chief Justice was opened for people to view the body and file past it before it was draped with the national colours and taken to Kumasi en route to Kumawu, his hometown, for burial tomorrow.
The government, in a tribute read by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, said the life of the late Justice Wiredu must be celebrated because of how he used it for the benefit of humanity.
Though the late former Chief Justice served in that capacity for only two years, it said he was able to enhance the image of the courts in the country and described his tenure as an important watershed in Ghana’s judicial system.
"He brought about the current Fast Track High Court, the Alternative Dispute Resolution and started the Judicial Training Institute which has become a model in Africa," it said.
The tribute said the late Justice Wiredu saw justice as central to the existence of mankind and contributed immensely to the writing of the 1992 Constitution and the entrenchment of democracy in Ghana.
"He was a staunch believer in the separation of powers and deserves praise because he served his nation truthfully. He was a lawyer’s lawyer and a judge’s judge," it said.
In another tribute from the widow, Mrs Emelia Wiredu, titled "A letter from your beloved wife, Emelia," she said "nothing can describe my pain. Your departure has been a big blow to me for your were a good husband, a friend and a pillar to me. I am shattered, lonely and miserable."
Describing how they met 42 years ago, she said "you were then a young, prominent and handsome lawyer. I could not refuse to say yes when you proposed your love for me."
The children described their father as a disciplinarian who has made them responsible citizens.
"Today, we bury not just a father, but an honourable man who was disciplined and principled," they said.
The Judicial Service in yet another tribute described the late Chief Justice as a "quintessential public servant who served his nation well until ill health prevented his active service."
"We in the Judicial Service will always cherish the memory of your years with us. Your death will not dim our memory," they said.
The Ghana Bar Association in its tribute said "his analytical mind, tenacity of purpose, courage, dedication to duty and hard work were some of his distinguished attributes that stood him out amongst his peers and contemporaries."
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye Mensah, who preached the sermon, called on mankind to seek for the virtues of justice and fairness which were cherished by God.
He said God created death to be part of human life and urged man to always keep it in mind.
Justice Wiredu died on January 31, 2008, at the age of 73.
He attended Adisadel College and the Kumasi College of Science and Technology, now Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology before proceeding to Britain to study at the Inn of Court School of Law. He graduated as a Barrister-at-Law of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and called to the British Bar in 1960.
After going into private legal practice for some time, he was appointed a High Court Judge in 1969 and elevated to an Appeal Court Judge in 1980.
In 1990, Justice Wiredu was appointed a Supreme Court Judge and became the Chief Justice of Ghana between 2001 and 2003.
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