Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, has urged young Ghanaians, particularly law students and legal professionals, to resist the growing desire to leave the country in search of opportunities abroad.

He stressed that Ghana’s future depends on citizens who are willing to help reform and strengthen its institutions.

Speaking at the University of Ghana School of Law’s Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series on July 30, 2026, Justice Kulendi challenged students to reject pessimism about the country’s future and instead dedicate themselves to building a stronger nation.

Addressing what he described as increasing cynicism among the youth, the Supreme Court judge said many young people had become convinced that Ghana offered no meaningful future, prompting them to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Justice Kulendi acknowledged that every society has its challenges and that Ghana is no exception.

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However, he argued that the true measure of character lies not in complaining about imperfections or abandoning the country, but in working to improve it for future generations.

“Resist the temptation for cynicism. I see a lot of young people, not just lawyers, but a lot of people who seem to think that we don’t have a country, we don’t have a system, we don’t have a future, and so they are looking elsewhere. If God wanted you to be American, Canadian, or German, God would have landed you there.

“There’s a good reason we are on this planet and in this country. Give up the cynicism, persuade yourself you can make the society you have met better than you met it, and pass it on to your children,” he said.

According to him, every generation inherits institutions that are imperfect, and it is the responsibility of those who follow to strengthen rather than weaken them.

“Every generation inherits institutions and cultures with imperfections. The measure of professional character lies not in lamenting or fleeing these imperfections, but in contributing to their reform and improvement. And that is my challenge to you,” he stated.

Justice Kulendi reminded the audience that Ghana’s justice system has been built over decades through the efforts of judges, lawyers and public servants who came before them.

He said today’s legal practitioners and students have a duty not only to preserve that legacy but also to improve it.

“Ladies and gentlemen, institutions endure because successive generations choose to preserve them. Each judge, every lawyer, and every student inherits a justice system built by those who came before. Our responsibility is not merely to admire that inheritance, but to strengthen it for those who will come after us. That is true legacy,” he said.

The Supreme Court judge further stressed that the strength of Ghana’s justice system does not depend solely on constitutional provisions or landmark legal decisions.

Instead, he said, it is sustained by the consistent performance of everyday professional responsibilities carried out with honesty, competence and integrity.

He cited examples such as judges delivering judgments promptly, lawyers acting with candour before the courts, court officials treating litigants with respect, witnesses speaking the truth, and ensuring that every citizen leaves the courtroom believing they received a fair hearing regardless of the outcome.

“The architecture of effective justice is therefore not sustained by grand constitutional declarations alone. It is sustained by ordinary acts faithfully performed.

“A judge who delivers a reserved judgment on time, an advocate who candidly draws the court’s attention to an authority adverse to his client’s case, a registrar who treats every litigant with courtesy and efficiency, a witness who speaks the truth, and a citizen who leaves the courtroom convinced that, although unsuccessful, they have received a fair hearing.

“These may appear to be ordinary acts, but they are the extraordinary disciplines upon which the rule of law ultimately depends,” he said.

Justice Kulendi further emphasised that Ghana’s constitutional democracy and justice system would continue to thrive only if judges remain independent, lawyers uphold the highest ethical standards, and the public retains confidence in the administration of justice.

He said preserving that trust is essential to protecting liberty and ensuring that the country’s institutions remain strong for future generations.

“If the bench continues to discharge its stewardship with independence and integrity, if the bar continues to practise with learning, courage, and honour, and if together we preserve the confidence of the people in whose name justice is administered, then the constitutional architecture of justice will not merely endure.

“It will continue to inspire confidence, secure liberty, and strengthen our republic for generations,” he added.



AK/MA