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CJ calls for expansion of private
bailiff concept
Accra, Nov. 24, Ghanadot/GNA - Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina
Theodora Wood, on Saturday directed that the Court Process
Scheme (CPS) should be extended to circuit and district
courts across the country.
The programme, which began in 2004, was to ensure that
private bailiffs provide efficient services to the court
process in order to enhance the justice delivery system.
Some of the High Courts, which started with the Court
Process Servers, programme included Accra, Tema, Koforidua,
Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi and Ho.
Mr. Justice Samuel Manful-Sau, an Appeal Court Judge and
Chairman of the Private Bailiff Certification Board (PBCB)
announced this at a day's review meeting for Court Process
Servers (CPS) in Accra.
The meeting, which attracted participants from registered
private bailiff organisations, was to appraise the
performance of these companies over the year as well as
renewing the licences of members.
He said the idea for the setting-up of the CPS was not to do
away with the traditional bailiffs at the various courts,
but rather to enhance efficiency and bring effectiveness
into the justice delivery system.
He said the traditional court bailiffs would continue to
serve the Attorney General's Department, Legal Aid Board,
Registrar General's Department and the Land Title
Registration Department since they would not pay any fee
charges.
He said despite few challenges that the programme faces
feedbacks from the various regions showed that the scheme
had been successful.
Ms. Justice Sophia Akuffo, a Supreme Court Judge with
Oversight Responsibilities for the CPS stated that the CPS
had always been key part of the justice delivery service of
the courts.
"Without the court process service you cannot have justice
and democracy in the system," she added.
She also called on the private bailiff companies to stop
their staff from demanding money from litigants.
She urged them to ensure constant education and monitoring
of their staff as well as be circumspect in their work.
She said the companies should not allow their field officers
to get too much contact with the litigants, which she said
would not augur well for the court process.
Ms. Justice Akuffo also stated the quality of justice system
has to do with the having a good and efficient CPS in the
country, adding that quality justice is what assures the
people of peace and justice in the society.
Mr. Prosper Adeti, Director of Finance, Judicial Service of
Ghana called on the private bailiff companies to have
constant touch with the judicial registry for reconciliation
of their accounts.
GNA
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