Sophia A. B. Akuffo, Chief Justice
The Judiciary and Judicial Service have drafted a new five year strategic plan aimed at streamlining the computerization process to enhance speed and efficiency in the delivery of justice in the judicial system.
The strategic plan which spans from 2020-2024 has become imperative owing to the expiration of the previous one last year which spelt out the need to develop another policy framework to bring about increasing reforms in service delivery.
An effective and efficient judicial service system is considered as a major general eligibility criterion that investors and multinational business enterprises look out for regarding increasing trade and investment in a host country.
Due to this, the judiciary has highlighted the need to speed up quality adjudication of cases by incorporating the process with the use of Information Communication Technology and digitization. The move is to facilitate the smooth hearing and quick disposal of cases most importantly business cases at the commercial courts.
Currently, the courts have been computerised to a large extent and digitisation is still ongoing. The current complexity in globalization has significantly altered the nature of public service delivery and the Judiciary is no exception.
Thus, there is constant pressure to be responsive to the justice needs of the citizens by adopting computerized systems to bring more speed and efficiency in adjudicating cases. The new strategic plan affirms efforts to provide quality, efficient and accessible court services; ensure continuous legal education as well as increasing transparency and accountability.
Delivering the key note address during a validation workshop of the draft in Accra, the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo said the engagement was part of the best practice processes for adopting of the strategic plan.
“Once stakeholder validation has been done, then you know you have crossed an important line towards fulfilling and implementing the item. Really, it’s a roadmap for us in our drive towards excellence in quality service delivery”, she noted.
The recent ease of doing business – which is a forward-looking report – released by the World Bank last week indicates that Ghana dropped four places. In effect, the effective nature of a country’s judicial system is seen as a critical factor in calculating a country’s respective score.
Speaking exclusive with the Goldstreet Business, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, Justice Anthony Benin mentioned that the judiciary has initiated steps to tackle major challenges affecting the service, however, the process involves capital investments.
“We have identified the problems and proposed solutions, but somebody has to provide us with funds to enable all the courts to be equipped to work faster. The judges themselves don’t like postponing cases, but when the facilities are not there, you are handicapped”, he stressed.
The European Union under the Accountable, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Programme (ARAP) supported implementation of the validation exercise.
