The Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood on Thursday charged magistrates and judges to rededicate themselves to ensure quality justice delivery.
She also said magistrates and judges must work harder and be smart to use measures such as Alternative Dispute Resolution to enhance the justice delivery system.
Mrs. Justice Wood was speaking at the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in Accra.
The two-day meeting is on the theme: “Delivering quality justice: A tool for deepening democracy”.
Mrs. Justice Wood urged magistrates and judges especially the young ones to pursue further studies to enhance their knowledge of the law.
She said the Judicial Council had commended members of the association for working hard and ensuring high output.
She said the Judicial Council has also put in place a monitoring system to ensure that members continue to give off their best.
Professor Justice Kofi Date-Baah, Justice of the Supreme Court also charged the magistrates and judges to maintain the momentum for reforms in the judiciary and to strive for better justice delivery.
“There is no doubt that the rule of law is a vital element of democracy and that the delivery of quality justice by the legal system is in its turn an essential element in the rule of law.”
Justice Date-Baah said magistrates and judges should jealously guard their critical role in maintaining the rule of law by defending the independence of the judiciary and making manifest the integrity and dedication to impartial decision-making.
He said the widespread recognition by the public that judges and magistrates are independent and reach their conclusions with resolute impartiality should strengthen their moral authority.
He said members should continue to work hard to strengthen the expansion of such recognition and that they should not be discouraged by bumps on the roads so long as they are confident that the conduct and job performance deserve such recognition.
“Our moral authority is important and we should all endeavour to protect, preserve and deepen it. Diligence, erudition, rectitude and faithful application of the law without fear or favour will deepen our moral authority,” he added.
