Official Tributes
Tribute to Her Excellency Justice Therese Striggner-Scott by the Minister, Management and Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
We gather this morning to bid a fond and last farewell to Ambassador Justice Therese Striggner-Scott, the news of whose passing away on 5th September 2021, was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration with profound sadness.
An esteemed former member of the Ghana Diplomatic Service, Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott was not only Ghana’s Ambassador to France, from January 1986 to May 1994, but also Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy from 1994 to October 1997. As Ambassador to France, she was concurrently accredited to Spain, Portugal, Greece and the Holy See; as Ambassador to Italy, her concurrent accreditations embraced Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece.
Prior to her role in the Ghana Diplomatic Service, a role which she filled admirably, she had been a legal practitioner who served in various capacities, including as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Assistant State Attorney of the Attorney General’s Department, District Magistrate Grade 1, Chairperson of the Juvenile Court, Vice- President of the Association of Circuit Court Judges and District Magistrates.
Long before becoming a diplomat, Her Excellency Justice Striggner-Scott was very much involved in international relations, serving as a member of Ghana’s delegation to the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse in Vienna, Austria in 1961, a conference which sought to review and modernize the law relating to diplomatic immunity. It was as though she was preparing for a role in Ghana’s Diplomatic Service. It is to her role as Ambassador, buttressed by her rich and varied experience in the law and on the bench, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration pays tribute today.
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Appointed Ambassador to France by the Government of Ghana led by the late President Jerry John Rawlings, Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott was also the Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Her legal background and experience served her well as a member of the Legal Committee of UNESCO. She was later elected to the Executive Board of UNESCO, becoming the first African woman to be elected to that prestigious body.
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Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott was active in UNESCO. She sought to advance the national interest and enhance the image of Ghana through her effective and valued contributions to the work of the Organisation; particularly as a member of the Executive Board and as Chairman of the Conventions and Recommendations Committee at the 140th Session of the Executive Board.
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Furthermore, for a year, 1993 to 1994, she was the Dean of the Commonwealth Group of Ambassadors accredited to France. Her 8 years as Ghana’s Ambassador to France, made her eminently qualified for that position.
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In Rome, as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy and as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Development (IFAD), Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott was no less effective. During her tenure in Rome, she not only attended high-level conferences within the remit of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, as well as the other organisations, but often led Ghana’s delegations to their sessions.
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Having retired from the Ghana Diplomatic Service, she was still active in international affairs in furthering the cause of international peace and security.
At the sub-regional level, she was a member of the Council of Elders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). She subsequently undertook other assignments for ECOWAS.
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She was also appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the late Kofi Annan, in October 2004, as a member of the International Commission of Inquiry, established by the Security Council of the United Nations to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Darfur. She brought to bear on the work of the Commission, the experience which she had garnered, serving as a member of the Goldstone Commission on public violence and intimidation in South Africa earlier on.
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The leadership qualities of Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott were exemplary. She had the uncommon ability to make every member of a team, be it the staff at her Embassy or members of a committee under her chairmanship, feel valued as a member of the team. She was totally charming in her manner and style of leadership. No one was insignificant, however lowly their rank. Her fair-mindedness dictated that everyone deserved a hearing, and was capable of contributing to the issue at hand.
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Those who knew her, worked with her or simply had the pleasure of meeting her were struck by her elegance, sophistication and utter charm which often attenuated her forthrightness.
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Many were impacted by her razor-sharp intellect, analytical prowess, perspicacity, tenacity of purpose and obvious integrity and honesty, and sense of humour. As a host, she was incomparable.
These are attributes which stood her in good stead, no doubt, on the bench but particularly in diplomacy.
Ambassador Justice Striggner-Scott served her country with distinction. And adapting for this occasion, Horatio’s valediction to his friend, Hamlet, in Shakespeare’s tragedy entitled “Hamlet”, we say;
“Now cracks a noble heart.
Good night, sweet princess;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
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May the soul of Her Excellency Justice Therese Striggner-Scott rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord.
Damirifa Due! Due ne Amanehunu
Tribute to Therese Striggner Scott from ECOWAS
Tribute to Therese Striggner Scott from the UNITED NATIONS
TRIBUTE FROM THE BOARD AND STAFF OF GHANA CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT (CDD)
We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our dear colleague Justice Ambassador Therese Striggner-Scott.
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Justice Scott joined the board of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) in 2005 and remained an active member of the board for the next fourteen years. When, at the last meeting of the board for the year 2019, she served notice of her decision to retire from the board, our spontaneous unhappy reaction to the announcement caused her to reveal to us her age at the time. Not only did that disclosure immediately foreclose any debate about the timing or propriety of her decision to retire, it made us appreciate how very fortunate we were to have had a person of her experience and standing to serve on our non-profit board well into her 80s.
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Justice Scott was regular at meetings of the board. On those rare occasions when she could not attend a meeting, she always made sure to send her apologies. Justice Striggner-Scott brought dignity, grace and gravitas to our board and to its deliberations. Perhaps due to her past experience as a judge and a diplomat, Ambassador Scott characteristically listened more than she spoke, so when she did speak during board meetings you knew it was because she had something of value to add to the conversation, not just so she could be heard. That she cared for the Center and its values and mission was unmistakable from the seriousness she attached to her duties as a board member and her readiness to share her wise counsel with us.
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Justice Scott did not limit her involvement with CDD to her board membership. She participated in activities organized by the Center. She was a notable presence at our annual Akwamu ne Kronti lectures and attended many of our regular public roundtables and social events, occasionally introducing a distinguished guest or speaker or giving the Center’s introductory remarks in her capacity as a board member. She was particularly instrumental in securing the participation of prominent figures in some of our major events, notably in 2016, when she helped secure the agreement of former UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan to deliver our Kronti ne Akwamu Lecture for that year.
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Justice Scott played a crucial role in the transition of our organization from its founding leadership to its current leadership at the end of 2017, serving as the chair of the three-member search committee appointed by the board to identify and recruit a new executive director for CDD.
When she announced her retirement from the board at the end of 2019, we planned to organize an official retirement party in her honour the following year. Unfortunately, the disruptions of COVID-19 made scheduling a befitting send-off for her difficult. We deeply regret that we did not have the opportunity to celebrate and thank her in proper form for her years of devoted service to the Center before her untimely passing.
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We cannot thank her and her family enough for the time she so generously gave to the business of CDD. We greatly appreciate the time we got to spend and work with Justice Scott. Her memory will continue to live with us, and we will forever miss her warm friendship.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with Geta and the entire family. As we mourn this painful loss, may you find solace in the knowledge that your beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, and our dear friend and colleague lived a vibrant and fulfilling life on this side of eternity. We at CDD are most fortunate to have been a part of her inspiring, long and beautiful life’s story.
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Justice Ambassador Therese Striggner-Scott, Rest in Peace.
TRIBUTE TO HER LADYSHIP THERESA STRIGGNER-SCOTT BY THE GHANA ASSOCIATION OF RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY ADVISORS (“GARIA”)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, a time to be born and a time to die… Amen. (Eccl. 3:1-2).
It is with much pain and yet great honour that this tribute is paid to Her Ladyship Justice Therese Striggner-Scott.
After her outstanding and distinguished service as a judge and diplomat, serving as a High Court Justice in both Ghana and Zimbabwe and as Ghana’s Ambassador to France and Italy, Her Ladyship Theresa Striggner-Scott accepted an invitation to serve on the Council of GARIA, right from its foundation. She was made the Chairperson for the Membership Committee, a role she played until her death. This was a rare privilege for GARIA, as it benefitted tremendously from her wisdom and insight.
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Her rich experience illuminated her contributions to GARIA’s deliberations. She was active not only in debate, but also in action for GARIA. Her contribution to the expansion of the GARIA’s membership was particularly remarkable. GARIA, at its inception, was a pioneering institution which was determined to catalyse the development of a rescue culture in Ghana for financially distressed corporate enterprises. Its leaders therefore needed to engage in ground-breaking thought. Justice Striggner-Scott excelled in this and, for this, GARIA will forever be indebted to her. Her last visit to GARIA office was on 27th July, 2021 where she decided to host Membership Committee meeting, and that was the very last time we saw her.
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GARIA is also exceedingly grateful to Her Ladyship Theresa Striggner-Scott for having left us a legacy of impeccable integrity and probity, rare qualities in today’s world of enduring and value. GARIA thanks Her Ladyship for allowing it to benefit from her wisdom and scholarship. GARIA is the richer for having known and worked with her as a Colleague and a Council Member. Her inimitable presence and sagacity will be sorely missed. Our prayer is that our compassionate God grants her peaceful rest from her endeavours.
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Rest well, Her Ladyship
You have paid your dues on this side of the great divide
Damirifa due.