Chief Justice: Leave judges to discharge their duties

The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood on Wednesday appealed to families, friends, community leaders to leave judges alone to discharge their duties in accordance with their Oath of Office.

She said the judge’s professional success or otherwise would depend largely on the support of these people as they embark on their career paths.

Mrs Wood was speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for nine high court judges, 11 circuit court judges and 11 magistrates in Accra.

The high court judges included Mr Asmah Akwasi Asiedu, Mr William Boampong, Kwame Gyamfi Osei, Daniel K. Obeng, Mr Francis Obiri, Mrs Juliana E. Amonoo-Neizer, Mr Kwaku Tawiah Achaa-Boafo, Mrs Afua Sarpomaa Amoah and Mrs Jennifer Abena Dadzie.

The judges were selected through a rigorous examination process, interviews and analyses of cases presented to them.

The judges took three oaths including Oath of Allegiance, Judicial Oath and Oath of Secrecy.

She warned that litigating parties either acting by themselves or through their agents would want to exploit their relationship with judges for their selfish ends.

“I urge you to be on your guard and be quick to resist such advances,” she added.

She said their recruitment was done transparently, competitively and fairly, this was because, the Judicial Council was very mindful of building a meritocratic judiciary, consequently, the appointments were all clearly based on merit.

She said by refusing to participate in acts that undermine and threatened substantive independence of judges, you are defending the institutional integrity and independence of the judicial branch of government.

The Chief Justice said keeping their personal and professional integrity intact, exercising competence, diligence and professionalism in the discharge of their duties would undoubtedly earned them the respect and honour of legal practitioners.

Dr Dominic Ayine, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice said justice is not the sole responsibility of the Bench and the Bar but a collective responsibility of all, who live and die by it.

He urged the judges that in delivering justice, they should be good ambassadors of the Chief Justice and demonstrate exemplary virtues on and off the bench.

He advised them to write judgments that would stand the test of time sustaining and entrenching the rule of law.

The Deputy Minister said having come this far in their lives, the judges should avoid the temptation of influence-peddling and clubs, which have derailed many and soured many other brilliant legal minds.

Nene Amegatcher, President of Ghana Bar Association said for the judges to be successful in their chosen career, they must go the extra mile to be industrious and work hard.

He said the judges owe it a duty to the administration of justice, Ghana and generations unborn to fight hard to dispel the perception of corruption.

Mr Dennis Adjei, President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana said judges must act now to improve upon the adjudicating system.

He said this may be done by knowing case management techniques including proper application for directions and effective use of witness statements.

“We must judge with conscience and reputation and we will be judged according to our actions and not the beautiful thought we have and never enforced,” he added.