Tension in the judiciary

The daily Dispatch, a private newspaper reports that the re is unease and tension within some personnel of the judiciary, especially some judges, about the way and manner some transfers are being done.

“On-going Dispatch investigations have revealed that of three recent transfers approved by the Chief Justice, two of them had spent only a year at their present duty posts.”

A letter dated March 11, 2002, with reference number SCR/33/Vol.4/20 and signed by the Chief Justice stated that he had approved the transfer of the Three High Court Judges. They are Mr. Justices S.A. Afari from Tarkwa to Accra, Mr. Justice Senyo Dzamefe from Sekondi to Goaso and Mr. W.K. Addo from Koforidua to Mampong Ashanti. All the postings are to take effect from July 1, 2002.

Whereas Mr. Justice Afari has spent more than three years at Tarkwa, the remaining two High Court Justices due on transfer, had been at their current posts for between 11 to 13 months.

The March 11, 2002 letter transferring the High Court Justices also stated, “all effort must be put into completing all part heard cases as no provision will be made for any judge to return to complete these cases.”

It concluded, “I am by copies of these letters, directing all Registrars of the High Court not to put any new cases before the affected judges and justices of the High Courts who are on posting should on no account take on any new cases.”

Further investigations also reveal that there have been transfers of some highly placed officials in the judicial service, who have spent less than 18 months at their duty posts