Justice Minister calls on Chief Justice

Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice (CJ), has appealed to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General and the Judiciary to urgently salvage the country’s criminal justice system, which according to her has completely broken down.

She said Judges complained about frustrations they go through in the trial of criminals, by police prosecutors and lawyers, who come to court without criminals.

Mrs Justice Wood made the call when she received Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, at her (CJ) office in Accra on Monday.

The CJ said: “We need to meet with the Police Service to know whether criminal cases that come to their jurisdiction are settled outside court.”

Mrs Justice Wood asked the Ministry to employ more lawyers to ensure quick and easy prosecution of criminal cases by the Attorney-General's Department.

Mrs Appiah-Oppong said she called on the CJ to discuss the strengthening of the country’s justice delivery system to ensure speedy delivery of justice.

She called for cooperation between the Judiciary and the Executive to improve the justice delivery system in the country.

Present at the meeting were Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, the Judicial Secretary, Mr Suliemana Ahmed, and Chief Director at the Ministry, Mrs. Amma Gaise, the Solicitor General and Mrs. Mavis Amoa, Director of Legislative Drafting.