Bar Association want court modernisation process to go on

Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has called for the continuation of the government's policy to modernise the court system.

The policy, being pushed by the government through the legal sector reform programme, would enhance the smooth and quick administration of justice for the benefit of everybody in Ghana, Mr Adu-Gyamfi told the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani after leading the GBA National Executives to hold separate meetings with members of the bar and the bench in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The meetings were part of the annual regional tours by the National Executives to find out at first hand problems and challenges facing both lawyers and judges in the administration of justice. Other members of the Executives were Mr Nii Osah Mills, National Vice President, Mr Benson Nusukpui, National Secretary, Mr Peter Zwennes, Assistant National Secretary and Mr Kwesi Cab-Addai, National Public Affairs Officer.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said that the government's declared golden age of business could not succeed "if we have a criminal justice system that nobody has confidence in". He appealed to lawyers to consider taking appointments at the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department. "We must accept appointments to work at the Justice Ministry whilst the GBA is fighting to improve the conditions of service there", he said.

The GBA President explained that the Justice Ministry was an area that no other group of persons or professionals could be employed except lawyers. "Without a strong and effective Ministry of Justice, our criminal justice system breaks down completely, since it is the duty of the ministry to conduct and prosecute criminal cases in the name of the Republic", he said.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the meeting with the lawyers and the judges identified a catalogue of problems including inadequate library and accommodation facilities, as well as personnel. These are the major constraints affecting the smooth administration of justice, noting; "there is only one state attorney manning the Attorney General's Department in the Region."

Later during a courtesy call on Mr. Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, the GBA Executives appealed to the government to encourage district assemblies to devote a percentage of their funds towards the smooth administration of justice.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi explained that the assemblies could provide courtrooms and bungalows for magistrates and circuit court judges. Though it is the duty of the judiciary to provide such facilities, the assistance of the assemblies would help enhance the smooth administration of justice.

Mr Adjei-Duffuor gave the assurance that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would impress on the assemblies to heed to the request of the GBA. The Deputy Regional Minister, however, appealed to the GBA to ensure that lawyers would also accept the challenge to serve on the bench. He challenged lawyers and magistrates to take appointments to serve in the districts to justify the investments the assemblies were expected to make.