Accra, July 2, GNA - Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice-designate has said the training of graduates and diploma holders, as lay magistrates to fill the lower courts would facilitate the dispensation of justice to the ordinary people.
He said when confirmed he would ensure that more judges were appointed to bring justice to the doorsteps of the ordinary man adding that people with the requisite qualification would be given two years of training to man the district courts and handle juvenile and motor cases.
Mr Justice Acquah said this on Wednesday when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be considered for appointment as the Chief Justice.
The nominee said the Parliamentary Judiciary Committee's report on perceived corruption in the Judiciary was in the right direction since the Judiciary itself was concerned about the situation and realized some lapses in discipline and dispensation of justice by its members.
Mr Justice Acquah said he assisted the Committee in its deliberations and that its work was to ensure the integrity of the Judiciary and the report not only covered the members of the Judiciary but the public as well.
He attended Adisadel College where he obtained both his West African Examinations Councils' Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Certificates and proceeded to the University of Ghana from 1964 to 1967 and obtained B.A. in Philosophy and from 1968 to 1970 obtained LL.B Hons. (Law).
Mr Justice Acquah entered the Ghana Law School from 1970 to 1972 for his Professional Certificate in Law and was called to the Bar in 1972. He was in Private Legal practice from 1972 to 1989; became a High Court Judge from 1989 to 1994, Appeal Court Judge from 1994 to 1995, Supreme Court Judge from 1995 to date and served on more than 20 Committees.
The Chief Justice-designate said when confirmed he would share out the work among senior members of the Judiciary and would not over burden himself or any member with too much responsibilities.
On the issue of truth in judicial matters, Mr Justice Acquah said truth depended on actual situations where the whole purpose was to cross-examine to arrive at the truth and it was important to and relevant at showing the actual events of a case.
Mr Justice Acquah said the controversy concerning his age was legitimate but added that the issue has been properly settled by the Judicial Council following the various submissions he made on his actual birth date.
He said there was the need for a ceiling on the number of Supreme Court Judges and the government could consider the financial implications involved in appointing more judges.
Mr Justice Acquah sad his vision for the Judiciary was to raise its image and integrity and since he had an insight into the magnitude of the problem, he would ensure that when appointed he worked with all the leaders to redeem the image, maintain its independence and ensure true interpretation of the law. He said he would pursue vigorous reforms and ensure that donor funded projects such as the automation of the judicial system was sustained to bring justice to all in the society.
Mr Justice Acquah said there was the need to set up a Criminal Justice Council trial of cases by indictment should be looked at since the process was cumbersome and delayed justice.
On accountability of judicial decisions, he said he would ensure that an annual report was made on the workload and conduct of each court or judge so that there could be an informed data on the performance of members of the judiciary.
Mr Justice Acquah said the provisions about the Judiciary were too detailed and very difficult to implement and could stifle its duties.
He said he did not subscribe to amendments to the Constitution at this stage, adding that since the previous regime worked with it for about two terms there was the need for the present administration to also study and work with it before considering of any amendments.
Mr Justice Acquah said the Fast Track Court was established under due process of the law and that it was an automation of the courts to render the speedy process at the courts and make it transparent and so far almost all the regional courts have been automated.
He said there was the need for an independent body to manage the security agencies instead of the government to bring about their independence and effective performance of their duties.
The Chief Justice-designate said he was coming to the Seat to ensure the reformation and modernization of the Judiciary through humility and respect for other opinions and to ensure that the backlog of cases pending at the Court of Appeal were cleared.
Mr Justice Acquah said women empowerment had been heightened and since he was a strong advocate of women's affairs he would ensure that equal opportunities were given to all to ensure justice in the country.
