I’ll pursue financial independence for judiciary - Akuffo

Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has said that one of the legacies she would like to leave after retiring from office is establishing a financially independent judiciary.

In a speech at her induction into office on Monday June 19, Justice Akuffo said she was “passionate about integrity, the delivery of quality justice, and the development and stability of our nation and will strive to demonstrate such actions throughout my tenure…”

She emphasised: “The judiciary has diligently worked for and obtained a large measure of independence. This is however made incomplete by the lack of financial independence and that is an objective I would like to achieve during my tenure as Chief Justice”.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has charged her to prove herself in her new role as the Chief Justice of Ghana.

Mr Akufo-Addo said Justice Akuffo has proved herself and did not disappoint after she was elevated to be a Supreme Court judge by former President Jerry John Rawlings some 22 years ago.

He emphasised that it was now time to prove herself as an effective Chief Justice who will advance the frontiers of justice delivery in Ghana.

“She has justified the confidence reposed in her by President Rawlings. She has now to justify the confidence I am reposing in her as Chief Justice,” he said

Mr Akufo-Addo described her as a “shining light of Ghana’s court” who is capable of advancing the judiciary in Ghana.

She becomes the fifth Chief Justice under the Fourth Republic.

Justice Akuffo holds a Masters in Law (LLM) degree from Harvard University in the United States.

She has been a member of the Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force.

In January 2006, she was elected one of the first judges of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. Initially elected for two years, she was subsequently re-elected until 2014 and is at present serving as Vice-President of the Court.

She has written The Application of Information & Communication Technology in the Judicial Process – the Ghanaian Experience, a presentation to the African Judicial Network Ghana (2002).