Judiciary will respond to legal problems - CJ

Accra, Oct. 12, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood on Friday said the judiciary should be transformed to respond to all legal problems likely to arise from maritime cases. "Our foreign trading and other business partners must trust that maritime cases brought before our courts will be disposed of with the required expertise, by the application of the proper legal principles, international rules and conventions," Mrs Justice Wood said at the opening of a day's seminar on Maritime Law in Accra.

The Seminar, the third in a series, was organised by the Ghana Shippers' Council (GSC) in collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute for judges of the Superior Courts to equip them with the requisite knowledge on Maritime Law.

Topics to be discussed include The Legal Regime Relating to Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage; The Menace of Maritime Fraud; An Overview of the Ghana Shipping Act and Obligations of Parties in Carriage Contract under International Conventions - Uniformity or Unilateralism.

The CJ reminded the judges that they would have discharged their expected roles at the true guardians of the rule of law, if only they succeeded in overcoming the challenges characteristic of developing judiciaries worldwide.

She observed that the last few years had witnessed a significant growth in the maritime trade in the country and said she was optimistic that the knowledge to be acquired at the seminar would enhance the capacity of members of the bench to deal efficiently and effectively with the legal problems anticipated as a result of the growing industry. Mrs. Justice Wood paid tribute to the memory of her predecessor, the late Mr. Justice George Kingsley Acquah, for his pioneering role in getting the seminars instituted by the GSC.

Turning to globalisation, the CJ pointed out that its effect was that no single nation could seriously claim to be self reliant because significantly, sea-borne transport, believed to be one of the ancient channels of trade between countries, continued to reign and rule as the most dependable mode of transporting goods across the globe.

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways, said Ghana's maritime trade had witnessed a phenomenal growth over the years from 4.9 million tonnes in 1996 to 13.4 million tonnes last year.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi noted that in the midst of the operations of shipping agencies and terminal operators, there was the need for a strong legal regime and administration of justice to ensure sanity and fair play in the highly specialised maritime industry.

He stated that in Ghana's bid to become a maritime hub for West and Central Africa, it would be important to address the legal issues that would not only make its transit corridors attractive, but to also bring them in conformity with international rules, laws and regulations. Mr. Kwame Osei Prempeh, Deputy Attorney-General, assured the judiciary that his outfit was in the process of upgrading and updating the country's maritime laws to bring them to international standard. Mr. Kofi Mbiah, Chief Executive Officer of GSC, in a welcoming address, said the Golden Age of Business would be a mirage, unless it was anchored in a strong and vibrant judiciary that served as a bulwark for the protection of business interests.

Mr. Mbiah pledged the Council's resolve to continue with the Maritime Law Seminars in the discharge of its mandate of protecting and promoting the interest of importers and exporters in Ghana.

In a goodwill message, Captain A. A. Biu, Managing Director of Nigeria Shippers' Council, announced that his country would organise its 10th Maritime Law Seminar in June next year.