Chief Justice swears in 39 judges and admonishes them to be fair

The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, Thursday swore in 39 newly qualified circuit court judges and district magistrates, with a call on them to be fair in the administration of justice in order to build a formidable Judiciary.

He said the justice delivery system was crucial to Ghana’s democratic process, hence the need for judges to be impartial.

“As justice bearers, you are expected to apply the law impartially, giving each person who appears before you fair and unprejudiced hearing due to him or her, according to law.

“I implore you to strive at all times in your decision-making to be free from influences extraneous to the cases before you,” he said, adding: “Justice is not anchored on friendship or kinship but on the law; justice is about due process.”

Justice Yeboah also advised the new judges and magistrates to eschew arrogance, bribery and corruption, since those practices would destroy the administration of justice and public confidence in the Judiciary.

Ceremony

Twenty circuit court judges and 19 district court magistrates were sworn into office, after they had sworn the oath of allegiance, the judicial oath and the oath of secrecy.

It was the first time the Chief Justice had sworn judges into office since he assumed office early this year.

To avoid large numbers in the auditorium, in line with COVID-19 protocols, the judges were sworn in in two batches.

The first event saw the swearing in of the 20 circuit court judges, after which the 19 magistrates took their turn to be sworn in.

The occasion was graced by family members and well-wishers of the new judges and magistrates.

The dignitaries present included the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr Anthony Forson Jnr, and a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

Facelift

Justice Anin Yeboah said his outfit was working with the local authorities to give a facelift to dilapidated court premises and bungalows in the areas where some of the judges would work.

According to him, the welfare of judicial staff, including their conditions of service, as well as good working environment, was a priority to the Judicial Service.

“Justice must be served to all our compatriots and so you must be prepared to serve even in the remotest parts of the country where conditions may not be as you expect or have been used to,” he said.

Training

The Chief Justice also implored the judges to constantly upgrade their knowledge of the law to enable them to adjudicate on cases effectively and efficiently.

He said the Judicial Service would continue to train and organise workshops for them, but added that there was the need for them to develop themselves.

That, according to him, would sharpen their judicial skills and update their knowledge in various aspects of the law “to ensure that you are abreast of new and emerging trends in the law and judicial practice”.