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New Human rights/labour courts to open in October-Chief
Justice
Fajai (W/R) Sept. 3, GNA - Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood,
Chief Justice of Ghana said the country will by October this
year, have its first human rights and labour related courts
in one of the high courts.
Mrs Wood made this disclosure at the opening of the fourth
triennial conference of the Judicial Service Staff
Association of Ghana (JUSAG) at Fijai near Takoradi on
Monday.
It was on the theme; “Uniting for better working conditions
and success of the judicial reforms”.
Mrs Wood said hard work, honesty and integrity must be the
yardstick for improved wages and better conditions of
service.
She said judicial reforms were intended to eliminate the
systematic institutional failures or weaknesses within the
legal system, increase citizens’ access to justice, enhance
transparency and accountability in governance.
Mrs Wood said it was sad that some court officials have
occasionally delayed cases either due to pure bias, or in
order to solicit bribes from litigants.
She said some have also used the archaic equipment as an
excuse to deny litigants, their constitutional right to
expeditious and fair trial and this must stop.
Mrs Wood said general attitude to work did not befit the
judicial service as a service provider to court users.
“If we recognised our roles as service providers, our
attitude and quality of service should be remarkably
different,” she stressed.
Mrs Wood expressed her regret at the shabby, unfavourable
and humiliating treatment meted out to lawyers, litigants
and their witnesses, adding, such acts if reversed, would
restore confidence in the people who patronise our services.
She stressed that the judiciary has an obligation to serve
the general public at all times with truth and honesty and
“by working with us, you are placed in a responsible
position, and you must help to preserve and enhance the
integrity of the judicial system, and not engage in
dishonourable acts”.
Mrs Wood said the judicial service will soon introduce a
code of conduct for its staff.
She said a series of training in integrity and ethics will
be organised for all staff members, adding that, members of
JUSAG needed to be prepared to adapt to the new changes.
Mrs Wood therefore urged all members of staff to perform
their duties with diligence at all times, encourage one
another to serve the public faithfully, and stay away from
criminal activities.
“Promoting integrity starts with confronting dishonest
behaviour and holding members of staff accountable, and
those with oversight responsibilities should not allow name
calling to paralyse them into inaction”.
Mr Kwesi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister said there
was the need for both the judiciary and members of JUSAG to
work closely to promote the ideals of freedom, justice,
equality and the rule of law at all levels of the judicial
system.
He said without cohesion, neither the judiciary nor the
JUSAG will be able to fight to overcome some of the
challenges that confronted them in their work.
Mr Blay said the rapid changes in the technological world
demands that all personnel of JUSAG became abreast with
modern trends and this would result in job-efficiency.
Mr Blay stressed that backbiting, division, and an
unconcerned attitude to work could thwart the efforts of the
reforms instituted recently.
Mr Rockson Idris, Acting National President of JUSAG said
the association had managed to secured five acres plot of
land for a JUSAG complex, while it had assisted members to
secure lands for private development.
He appealed for a realistic scheme of service and capacity
building for its members.
Mr Idris urged members of JUSAG to work hard and reverse the
sunken image of the service.
GNA
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