|
C. J calls integrity the essential
building block for efficient judiciary
Accra, Oct. 5, Ghanadot/GNA- The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice
Georgina Wood, has underlined integrity as the essential
building block to an efficient and effective Judicial
Service.
"The sobering fact is that good systems and policies per se
are not enough; they do not by themselves bring change," she
said.
"I think that the essential building block to an efficient
and effective service is integrity," the Chief Justice said
in a three-page paper outlining her vision for the Judicial
Service.
Mrs Justice Wood said to achieve the goals set for by the
Judicial Service, there was the needed for "good people" to
carry through the reforms and run the systems.
She said these should be high calibre and disciplined judges
and staff who cared about people and justice and committed
and dedicated to work and treated disputants and persons
appearing before them with dignity and respect.
The Chief Justice said she envisaged a strong, independent
and trustworthy judiciary stressing that the contribution
and co-operation of each person in the Judicial Service were
highly valued in that engagement.
Noting that her vision fell in line with that of the
Judicial Service (Access to Justice), Mrs. Justice Wood said
Ghanaians were entitled to high quality justice.
"This means that our people are entitled to have their
disputes resolved fairly, equitably, expeditiously and cost
effectively."
Mrs. Justice Wood said there were no quick-fix solutions to
the problems facing the judiciary hence the need to empower
judges through judicial education.
According to her, training of judges in judiciary values was
"a key strategy" saying that the idea was to infuse strong
ethical standards and behaviour into their conduct through
effective leadership at all levels within the judiciary,
education and awareness campaigns.
"To make our judges and staff capable and effective in their
various fields require that we build their need capacities
and ensure also that they are adequately rewarded and
appreciated."
The Chief Justice said as part of the developmental agenda
the Service was going to include "Judicial Case Management,"
in the System noting that this "normally ties up neatly with
ADR, empowers judges, rather than legal practitioners and
their clients, to proactively manage and control the pace of
litigation".
According to her, case management, which had gained
credibility in all strong judiciaries world wide, did not in
any way devalue the traditional role of the legal
practitioner in adversarial systems.
"To the contrary, it adds value to it, for it enhances their
performance, leads to greater efficiency, leading ultimately
to savings in time and cost."
"When adjudicators are so empowered, they already are
halfway through winning the battle against the interminable
delays associated with litigation processes in which
ultimate responsibility of the pace is allowed to rest with
lawyers and their clients."
On the new complex to house the Judicial Service's training
institute and provide hostel facilities for Judges and
Magistrates, the Chief Justice said the project had taken
off and she was optimistic that competent staff would be
recruited.
Noting that there were a lot to be done, Mrs Justice Wood
said she intended to continue and expand the work of her
predecessor.
GNA
|
