Let's put in place strong, fearless Judiciary-CJ

Accra, Oct 19, GNA- Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice (CJ), on Thursday underscored the need for a strong and fearless Judiciary, which the citizenry could be justifiably be proud of. She said, consequently, recruitments, appointments and promotions in the Judicial Service would be based strictly on integrity, industry, intelligence and the independence of its members.

Mrs Wood made the call at the first Judicial Service Development Partners' Forum held in Accra, under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where, as head of the Judiciary, she spelt out her vision and shared what it contained with the participants. She charged members of the Judicial Service to be earnestly committed to work as a team, in order to build a trustworthy, strong, efficient and effective independent Judiciary.

Mrs Wood said this would enable members of the Judiciary to fulfil its constitutional mandate of safeguarding and protecting the rights of the people by upholding the rule of law. She said her goal was to lead the Service to pursue policies, projects, programmes and other initiatives that would bring "all of our noble objectives into fruition."

The CJ reiterated that delays, incompetence, and accusations of lack of integrity, remained major challenges facing the Judiciary today. Mrs Wood expressed the hope that with the support of the donor community, the problems would be surmounted in order to bring justice to the doorsteps of the majority of Ghanaians.

She anticipated that "I look forward to a future where there is effective administration of justice at all levels, where all citizens can access justice regardless of their stature, status, or where they live in this country."

Mrs Wood noted that "Judicial Education" held the key to raising competent, confident and independent judges, to ensure a smooth and efficient administration of justice. She said "we need to continue to keep our judges abreast with developments in the law, and to address incompetence." On the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Mrs Justice Wood said the necessary mechanisms had been put in place to extend mainstream ADR to the Central, Western and Volta Regions.

Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, called on members of the Judicial Service to work towards the building of a healthy judiciary to enhance public confidence in the judicial system and to raise the image of the Service.

She thanked donors for their continued support for the programmes of the Judicial Service, and urged them to sustain their assistance to the Service in its quest for justice for all and sundry. Mr. Joe Ghartey, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, assured the CJ of his outfit's co-operation and support for the realisation of the goals and objectives of her vision. Nii Osah Mills, the newly-elected President of the Ghana Bar Association, observed that the Rule of Law could be eroded if majority of the people did not have access to justice.

He pledged the Association's preparedness to co-operate with the Judicial Service to ensure the attainment of the CJ's vision, aimed at promoting the smooth and efficient administration of justice to all manner of persons without discrimination.

Miss Lise Abildgaard Sorensen, Programme Co-ordinator at the Danish Embassy disclosed that over the next few months, the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA) would support studies on barriers on Access to Justice. She expressed the hope that the Judiciary would be informed about the intention of DANIDA when developing its work plans. Mr. Kwame Pianim, a renowned economist suggested that the Fast Track Court system be extended to the regions.

Mr. Yaw Baah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, challenged lawyers to make modest contributions towards refurbishing and equipping the courts to enhance justice delivery.

Other dignitaries present at the event were Dr. S.K. B Asante, member of the Judicial Council, Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and Mrs Leonora Kyerematen, Chairperson of the National Governance Programme.