UCC inducts second batch of law students
     

Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensiam VI, Omanhen of Owirenkyi Traditional Area of Assin Kushea, has urged lawyers to be diligent in court in order to safeguard their reputation and that of their families.

He said unlike other professions such as doctors where their prescription and diagnosis notes were covered by privileges, everything that transpired in court was recorded for future reference and could be used as evidence against them and their family even after their death. 

Ehunabobrim Agyensiam VI gave the advice at the 2nd Roll Call ceremony of the Faculty of Law of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, held on Friday to formally induct forty six fresh students for the 2014/2015 academic year as junior members.

The ceremony was also used to acknowledge the academic excellence of some continuing students from the first batch.

Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensiam, who is himself an astute legal practitioner said though lawyers were often advised to defend the indefensible, their duty was to defend the right of all human beings irrespective of their reputation.

He explained that sometimes matters in deputes were not easily recognizable by non- lawyers thus the impression that they were corrupt.

The Omanhen indicated that it had become increasingly difficult for people to have confidence in the traditional courts because of the cost involved coupled with the delay in disposing of cases.

He added that litigants often left the court hating each other because they were made only to swear on their faith to be truthful but not asked to forgive and forget.

Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensiam said words and behaviors of lawyers at trial often gave birth to cruelty instead of love, kindness and charity, adding that it was in addressing such issues that the Alternative Resolution Disputes (ADR) System had been instituted.

He commended Traditional Councils for their ability to combine the ADR system and the jury system to seek not only justice but peace, by making parties involved swear to seek peace at the end of the trial instead of bearing hatred or cruelty against each other.

He urged the students to find time to visit some palaces to acquaint themselves with the wisdom and fairness with which they practiced and also do likewise.

Administering the oath of junior members after a roll call and signing of the register, Justice Peter Ababio a High Court Judge urged them to study every subject of law diligently to be all-round since that is what is required to be a holistic lawyer.

The founding Dean of the Faculty Prof. Philip Bonzi-Simpson, said the faculty was not grooming them to be bookworms only but lawyers with a high academic performance and general behavior in line with the faculty’s core values of integrity, diligence and service.

He expressed confidence that by the end of their study, the students would possess a sound knowledge of the law, confident in research, serviceable to society, information communication technology (ICT) proficient, decent dressing and self - comportment to meet highest international standards.

Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Stephen Kendie, advised them to uphold the ethics of the profession, live moral lives to appeal to others and defend what is defensible.

He further urged them to abide by the oaths they had taken, be learned in very issue of the society and strive to be the best throughout their study and beyond.


SOURCE: GNA