Gov't To Resource Law Institutions � Prez Mills

President John Evans Atta Mills has said his government would support any initiative that sought to expand and strengthen the nation�s legal institutions. This is because such institutions promote the rule of law and the rights and liberties of the citizenry. He said by so doing, they significantly helped in the sustenance and consolidation of the nation�s democracy. Professor Mills said this in an address read for him at the inauguration of the Ghana Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (GIALS), a legal scholarship and research-oriented institution, which provides a platform for legal advocacy and law reform initiatives, in Kumasi on Wednesday. President Mills said it was in appreciation of this that the government would ensure that law institutions were provided with the requisite human and material resources to function more effectively and deliver on their mandate. GIALS is the second of its kind in Africa and is affiliated to the Faculty of Law of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of London. The principal goal for its establishment is to serve as a world-class legal think-tank and research institution whose work and influence would provide an avenue for the discussion and cross-fertilization of ideas regarding the development of law in Ghana and Africa in general. President Mills urged the authorities of GIALS to establish good working relations not only with their colleagues at KNUST but other agencies like the Law Reform Commission, Parliament, the Judiciary, Attorney-General�s Department and other relevant organizations outside the country. Through this, he said, there would be information sharing and free flow of ideas and experiences to further enhance the capacity of GIALS. President Mills expressed the hope that students and stakeholders in the legal sector would take advantage of the Institute to undertake research to strengthen the legal system and deepen Ghana�s democracy. Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante, Omanhene of Asokore Traditional Area, who chairs the Advisory Council, said the Institute would develop and implement projects in social development and also contribute towards the capacity building of the KNUST Faculty of Law. "GIALS was dedicated to providing the necessary leadership and focus in legal research and policy dialogue for the benefit of the country," he added.