Judiciary prepared to handle any threats to peace

THE Judiciary says it is well prepared to handle cases that are likely to jeopardise the peace of the nation.

It said training programmes had been organised for judges to enable them to handle such cases to ensure the sustenance of the peace and stability of the nation.

A Justice of the High Court, Justice Cynthia Wiredu, who said this on behalf of the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, pleaded with all stakeholders to contribute their quota to the attainment of peace and stability in the country. 

She said this in Accra last Friday at a programme organised by Plan International Ghana to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child.

Peace

"I want to emphasise that Ghana is a beacon of peace and admonish all stakeholders to let peace prevail in Ghana, for in peace and love, we shall build for ourselves a nation that will be the safe haven and pride of posterity," Justice Wiredu said.

She also expressed the commitment of the Chief Justice and the Judiciary to ensuring that peace prevailed in Ghana before, during and after the December 7 elections, adding that Ghana was a beacon of peace and the judiciary was committed to maintaining that image that all Ghanaians had worked tirelessly to gain for themselves.

“The Judiciary assures all Ghanaians, and especially the girl-child and young persons, of the protection of their rights before, during and after the 2024 elections. And I can assure you the Honourable Lady Chief Justice is committed to ensuring peace. This is because she believes that the family is the fundamental building block of society, and family influence extends to various aspects of national development including promoting socio-cultural ties and stability,” she said.

Rights of girls

Plan International mooted the idea for the celebration of the day in December 2011 and this was accepted by the United Nations. Since then, every year in October 11, the day is commemorated to recognise the rights and importance of girls.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: "Girls and all civilian rights are protected during conflict" with the hashtag, ‘United for peace’. 

Over 100 girls across the country participated in the celebration in Accra which also saw various stakeholders including those from the security agencies, the National Peace Council and the children sign a peace pact towards the upcoming elections at the event. Justice Wiredu signed on behalf of the Chief Justice.

Plan International Ghana

The Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Constant Tchona, said the organisation was committed to promoting and advancing the rights of children, young people and communities with a special focus on achieving equality for girls.

Citing various studies to buttress the importance of protecting girls’ rights during conflict, he said conflicts robbed children and young people of their childhood and for girls, many accounts suggested that they suffered sexual violence, rape and other traumatic experiences. 

He, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to ensure that peace prevailed before, during and after this year’s general election.

“This is non-negotiable. The peace we enjoy here in Ghana cannot be taken for granted. Our children, especially our girls, need peace to learn, to lead and to decide. Together, let us pledge to protect girls,” he appealed.

The Chief of Education of UNICEF Ghana office, Christin McConnell, said to ensure a better future for all, the empowerment of girls must be prioritised, adding that this meant investing in their education, protecting their rights and providing them with the resources they needed to succeed.