CJ calls for confidence in judicial system

Accra, June 27, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood on Friday called for an efficient and fair judicial system that would enhance investor confidence and increase foreign investments in the country.

She said, for the country to realize its full potential, investors must have faith in the capability of the judicial system of resolving business matters effectively.

Mrs. Justice Wood was speaking at a stakeholders' forum for improving the "Doing Business" in Ghana ranking in Accra. The forum organized by the Judicial Service of Ghana was to engage its stakeholders in effective dialogue to devise useful and practical ways for improving the commercial justice delivery. The forum was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, President's Special Initiative, Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

The rest are the Private Enterprise Foundation and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

The 2008 Doing Business Report launched by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, the fifth in a series, places Ghana among the top 10 reformers globally for doing business. However, as regards the issues of enforcing contracts and protecting investors, Ghana was ranked 51st and 33rd respectively out of 178 countries in the 2008 annual rankings.

Mrs. Justice Wood said the World Bank survey clearly indicated that there was still more work to be done to improve the country's ranking in subsequent studies.

The Chief Justice also stressed the need for the judicial machinery to act as a catalyst for increased business and investment activity in the country.

"Our role in this regard is the enforcement of contract and the protection of investors, a crucial role for creating a secure and enabling environment for doing business in Ghana." Mrs Justice Wood said the Judicial Service had initiated a number of reforms in infrastructure and procedural issues which are ongoing to address the varying needs of the modern business community in the justice delivery system.

She said the judiciary had positioned itself in readiness for the expected commercial disputes likely to flow from business relationship pertaining to the recent oil find in the Western Region. The Chief Justice also challenged civil society to assist the judiciary to fight corruption by not only reporting negative conduct but more importantly to desist from tempting judges in the place.