Law is one of the social institutions that binds all citizens, both young and old. This is to say that the law regulates and shapes the entirety of man’s existence, activities, properties and general conduct throughout his lifetime and beyond.
This observation aligns with the lucid thought of an accomplished Jurist and Professor of law Prof. Kofi Date-Bah who retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana barely eight years ago. Prof. Date-Bah shares at the launch of his book titled ” Selected Papers and Lectures on Ghanaian Law”.
A 323-page Book authored by Professor Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, a retired Supreme Court Judge, on “Selected Papers and Lectures on Ghanaian Laws”, has been launched in Accra.
The Book is a compendium which contains various Papers and Lectures on Ghanaian Law delivered by the author.
It discusses the legal system and legal education in Ghana, the Judiciary, human rights and good governance, and business law.
The book launch was attended by several Justices of the Superior courts, lawyers, as well as Academics and the public. Prof Date-Bah said the variety of topics treated means the book could be regarded almost as a mini reader on Ghanaian Law.
“In truth, I did not set out to write such a book. Rather, it is an aggregation of various papers and lectures I have written in response to invitations received to speak to various audiences. I am glad that I am now able to share more widely, through this book, the ideas that I have discussed with particular groups,” he said.
The range of subjects covered in the book is expected to be of interest to students and both practicing and academic lawyers, as well as the lame man curious about the functioning of the Ghanaian legal system.
Prof. Date-Bah said the book will help in economic growth especially with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, who wrote the foreword of the book, in a speech read on his behalf, said the book provides reference materials that will enrich the knowledge of lawyers and judges, adding that it will also be useful to faculty, as well as students and researchers.
Nana Dr. S. K. B. Asante, Omanhene of Asante Asokore, who chaired the function, described Prof Date-Bah as an eminent jurist, who had excelled in all major phases of his career, as an academic, an adviser to developing countries on international business transactions and finally as a Supreme Court Judge.
“It is not well known that at the time of his retirement from the Supreme Court, he enjoyed the rare status of having taught all his colleagues on the Supreme Court,” Nana Dr Asante said.
“I suggest that this should be recorded in the Guinness book of Records. It is indeed rare to find a Supreme Court in any country where one Justice of the Supreme Court can claim to have taught all his colleagues at the Law School.
The Justices present at the launch commended Justice Date-Bah for his highly illuminating book saying they will forever be indebted to him for such enlightenment.
Story by Mabel Adorkor Annang
