Chief Justice swears in circuit court judges
The Chief Justice has urged judges not to engage in conduct that could impugn their personal integrity and that of the judiciary, which she described as a key governance institution.
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Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood told them that they had a sacred duty to enhance the authority of the courts and not to diminish or undermine it.
“Public trust and confidence in the judiciary is so fundamental to the rule of law and democratic governance that any conduct by those of us entrusted with judicial power and which will be inimical to our interest should not be tolerated,” she stated.
Swearing in seven circuit court judges at the Supreme Court yesterday, Justice Wood stated that, “we need to understand that public confidence in the judicial system must be guarded and protected at all costs, as when this is eroded, the rule of law and all those democratic values and principles that this nation has toiled so hard for would be irretrievably lost”.
The judges are Ms Effia N. Adu-Amankwah, Ms Abigail Asare, Mr Kofi Ametewe and Mr Alexander Graham. Others are Mr Michael Abbey, Mr Bernard Bentil and Mr Baptist K. Filson.
The judges took the oath of allegiance, the oath of secrecy and the oath of the judiciary.
The swearing-in was attended by a delegation from Uganda, led by its acting Chief Justice, Mr Steven B. K. Kavuma, as well as the families and friends of the judges.
Judges are accountable.
The Chief Justice stated that being independent did not mean that members of the judiciary had free rein to do as they pleased.
She said members of the judiciary must be accountable to the sovereign people of Ghana on whose behalf they exercised judicial power.
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“Ghanaians now, more than any period in our history, are increasingly aware of their rights and know what to expect from public servants.”
Judges not above the law
Justice Wood said to consolidate judicial integrity, it required that “we do understand that as judges we are not above the law; we are subject to it”.
“Judicial transparency and accountability demands that indeed we should be the first to subject ourselves to the constitution and laws of this land and be ready to give a good account of our stewardship at all times.
“We, therefore, have an important role to play in this regard by upholding very high standards of judicial conduct,” the Chief Justice added.
Mr Kavuma reminded the judges to be mindful of their conduct in the eyes of the public, as any action and inaction on their part could either boost or affect public confidence in the judicial process.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs Marietta Brew Oppong, said judges are the pillar of the entire justice system, hence they needed to avoid impropriety in their activities and decisions in order not to bring dishonour to the Judiciary.
“You must not allow old boys, old girls, ethnicity, partisan and religious affiliations to affect your sense of judgement, as this will affect your integrity and that of the justice system,” she advised.
Judgeship is a calling
The President of the Ghana Bar Association, Nene Amegatcher, reminded the judges that their position is a noble one. Therefore, he asked them to see their career as a calling and not as a paid job.
The President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana, Mr Dennis Adjei, expressed optimism that they would bring their expertise and good conduct to bear on their duties.