Accra, Sept. 28, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina, Wood said on Friday there were no quick fix solutions to the problems facing the judiciary apart from empowering judges through education and training in judicial values.
"Ethical behaviour in our conduct can be achieved through effective education, good leadership, and awareness campaigns". The Chief Justice said this when she received a delegation from the European Union in her office. The delegation called to congratulate her as the first female Chief Justice in Ghana.
"We need good high calibre and disciplined judges and staff who care about people and are committed to deliver justice and treat disputants appearing before them with respect and dignity," Chief Justice Wood reiterated.
She said the Judicial Service had put in place good systems and policies to develop its hard and soft infrastructure, including the building of the Court of Appeal complex in Kumasi and the refurbishment of courthouses, as well as the mainstreaming of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in courts.
She said her vision was to provide easy access and quality of justice, thus disputes would be resolved fairly, equitably, expeditiously and cost-effectively to the satisfaction of all parties. To achieve the set goals, she outlined a five-year plan on the theme: "Strengthening Judicial Integrity and Capability through judicial education and training", as the road map for achieving the long-term objective.
She commended the initiatives of her predecessor, the late Chief Justice Kingsley Acquah on procedural reforms, which she said, would be continued and expanded.
Mr Filibreto Ceriani Sebregondi, head of the European Commission in Ghana, said 367 million Euros had been allotted to strengthen democratic governance in Ghana.
He pledged the EU's continued assistance to the judiciary in appreciation for "the presence of good governance in Ghana", adding that it would provide funding for the refurbishment of court houses in all the districts to facilitate the administration of justice at the local level.
