Poor remuneration accounts for corruption in Judiciary

An executive member of the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG), on Wednesday attributed the perceived corruption in the Judicial Service to poor remuneration and said the problem must be solved. Mr Justice Paul Puengyii, Upper East Regional Secretary of JUSAG contended that although corruption could not be ruled out completely in the Service, salaries of staff is nothing to write home about.

The disparity in the salary structure in the Service compared to other state organisations must be looked at critically, he said. Mr Puengyii was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga. He said public perception although not a true reflection of facts, associating corruption with the Judiciary drags the image of the Service into disrepute and erodes the confidence members of the public have in the Judiciary.

Mr Puengyii said with the current computerisation programme underway in the service, especially at the high courts, one expects that such development would be accompanied by motivation of staff to give out their best and not demoralizing comments about the very institution established to bring justice to the people.

He said the Judiciary is not totally corrupt. It is only unfounded allegations people circulate to tarnish the image of the service, he said. He appealed to the public to have confidence in the Judicial Service.