The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has appealed to judges to endeavour to refer chieftaincy cases to their respective traditional councils for speedy trial. He gave the advice when judges of the various courts in Kumasi called on him at the Manhyia Palace at the weekend.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu advised the judiciary to live above reproach to enable it to play a meaningful role in the promotion of democracy in the country. He noted that lapses on the part of the judiciary would lead to retrogression of the country?s current democratic dispensation. ?As judges you have a special role to play in the development of our dear nation and all seriousness must be attached to such a unique role?, he said.
The Asantehene observed that without the active support of the judiciary, the other arms of government namely the legislative and the executive could not function properly as expected. He, therefore, called for stronger collaboration between the judiciary and the other arms of government. ?If there is no team work between all the government machinery our quest for development will be very hard to achieve,? he stressed.
On the independence of the judiciary, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said steps should be taken to make it financially independent. That, he said, would make it impartial in its function. The Asantehene suggested a mechanism that would enable the judiciary to develop its won financial strategies.
