Forum for Governance and Justice mourns Laary Bimi

Accra, July 27, GNA – The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) has paid glowing tribute to Mr Larry Bimi, the Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who passed away last weekend, saying it considers his achievements a great legacy worthy of honour.

FGJ declared it would not abandon the principles for which Mr Bimi lived and died.

Mr Bimi passed away on July 22 and was buried on July 23 under Muslim rites.

FGJ was formed when the Association of Judges and Magistrates blacklisted for lawyers who allegedly said at a forum organised by the NCCE that there was corruption in the judiciary.

“We shall continue to ensure that no person, who seeks the ends of freedom and justice, shall be cowed into submission,” it said in a statement signed by Dr. Clement A. Apaak, Convener, and Dr. Samuel C. K. Buame.

The other lawyers blacklisted by the Judges and Magistrates are Dr. Raymond Atuguba, Mr. Abraham Amaliba and Mr. David Annan, who after reviewing research findings by certain international and domestic research institutions, made statements to the effect that there was a high level of corruption in the judiciary.

The four lawyers have, among others, been denied access to the courts of Ghana since May this year.

The FGJ said: “This, however, did not deter Mr Larry Bimi from continuing with the fight against corruption in general and judicial corruption in particular in this country.

Certainly, all attempts by the AMJG and subsequently the Ghana Bar Association (of which he was a member) to cow him and the other lawyers into submission have failed.”

The statement said throughout his adult life, Mr Bimi strived to correct injustice wherever he found it, adding he always did by way of educating people on their civil and political rights.

“This quality was what made him the obvious person to occupy an office whose prime mandate is to create and sustain within the country the awareness of the principles and objectives of the 1992 Constitution.

FGJ said Mr Bimi was determined to ensure that the ordinary citizen of this country (Ghana) knew his/her rights, duties and responsibilities.

“He was untiring in his effort to entrench civil and political rights in our society. Through his initiatives, innovation and dedication many have come to appreciate the essence of the fundamental human rights and freedoms contained in our Constitution.”

FGJ said the records showed that he was resolute in the fight against child labour, moral decadence, teenage pregnancy, inadequate educational infrastructure, unbridled executive power and corruption.

The statement noted that it was through Mr Bimi’s astute leadership that the presence of the NCCE was being felt in all the Districts and the thousands of communities in this country.

“Indeed Mr Bimi was bold and unyielding in his quest to champion what is right. He was keen in exposing the wrongs in our society irrespective of the clout of the perpetrators.”

FGJ extended its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Mr Bimi.