Chief Justice launches Justice Clubs to deepen legal awareness in schools

The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has inaugurated a new batch of Justice Clubs in selected Senior High Schools across the Western and Central Regions, expanding a nationwide initiative aimed at nurturing young citizens who understand and uphold the rule of law.

The Clubs, part of the Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme, are designed to expose students to constitutional principles, legal ethics and civic responsibility. Thirteen schools were formally inducted at a ceremony held at Fijai in Sekondi.

Addressing students and school leaders, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said the Judicial Service’s motivation for establishing the Clubs is rooted in a belief that the law should not be viewed as the exclusive domain of judges and lawyers.

“It is a living guide for all,” he said, noting that the success of the pilot phase in the Greater Accra Region last year—where students showed “enthusiasm, curiosity and commitment”—convinced the Service to roll the initiative out to other regions.

The Chief Justice said early exposure to the values of justice, accountability and integrity helps shape citizens who are more likely to defend these ideals throughout their adult lives.

He encouraged students to make their Justice Clubs hubs for dialogue, problem-solving and community service, and charged the new executives to lead with discipline, honesty and a sense of purpose.

Justice Professor Olivia Anku Tsede, Chairperson of the Mentoring Programme, highlighted the broader civic importance of the Clubs. She described them as platforms that cultivate socially aware, critical thinkers who appreciate fairness and social justice.

“Our country’s progress is not built only on strong institutions but on informed citizens,” she said. By engaging with legal concepts early, she believes students will be better equipped to make responsible choices and contribute to a peaceful, just society.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson praised the Judicial Service for extending the programme, saying it would help shape responsible, justice-minded young people.

He noted that empowering students with knowledge of the legal system strengthens democratic culture and promotes respect for the rule of law.