Accra, June 2, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood on Tuesday

noted that appointments and

promotions in Ghana Judicial Service were based purely on merit rather than friendship or favouritism. This is part of a strategy to build public confidence in the judicial system, she explained. Mrs Wood said the judiciary was expected to lead in the fight against corruption; however there were

times that the body was associated with issues of dishonesty which was a threat to public confidence in the

system. "The judiciary is therefore implementing strategies that will increase public trust in them since judiciary

integrity underpins good governance." Mrs Wood was speaking at the opening ceremony of a programme that seeks to promote good

governance and anti- corruption in Ghana, Nigeria and Mali and was attended by 16 participants. The Les Aspin Programme for Good Governance and Anti-Corruption is an academic and leadership

training programme that builds the capacity of civil society groups to develop and implement strategies for

improving integrity and accountability. Mrs Wood said the judiciary had set up a public complaint unit as an anti-corruption tool to encourage

Ghanaians to report issues bothering on corruption. She expressed delight that two judges were participating in this year's programme and commended the

United States government for the support to promote good governance. Mr Donald Teitelbaum, US Ambassador lauded Ghana's high example of democracy. He noted that people sometimes take corruption for granted and accept it as a fact of life. "None of us can individually eradicate corruption but we can as individuals refuse to participate in

corruption. We should not accept corruption as a way of doing business, since that will be a big mistake,"

he said. Mr Teitelbaum urged the participants to confront corruption, which he said was a global phenomenon. Reverend Fr. Timothy O'Brien, Director of Les Aspin Centre in Washington DC, expressed happiness about

the contributions the centre had made in terms of reducing corruption globally. "My duty is to motivate young people to do good," he said. Aside of the programme, students of the Aburi Girls Senior High School Civic Club, expressed concern

about the deplorable state of the Aburi-Nsawam High road and urged the government to adopt a bottom-

top approach to help renovate the facility. 2 June 10