By: Hannah Dadzie
The Judicial Service of Ghana has commended the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) for its extensive support and coverage of activities marking the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
A nine-member delegation from the Supreme Court at 150 Anniversary Planning Committee paid a courtesy call on the Management of GBC to formally express its appreciation for the Corporation’s contribution towards the success of the historic celebrations.
The Chairman of the Supreme Court at 150 Anniversary Planning Committee and a Justice of the Supreme Court, His Lordship Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, said GBC exceeded the expectations of the Judicial Service by providing comprehensive coverage of anniversary activities at no cost.
He said the partnership enabled the judiciary to achieve one of the key objectives of the Anniversary celebration, opening its doors to the Ghanaian public and creating greater awareness about the work of the courts.
“From Accra to Cape Coast to Kumasi, everything, GBC was there to give us live coverage, broadcast and live streaming,” Justice Adjei-Frimpong said.
He noted that the support provided by GBC demonstrated the Corporation’s commitment to its mandate as Ghana’s national broadcaster.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong said several initiatives introduced during the anniversary celebrations would outlive the commemorative activities and become part of the judiciary’s regular calendar.
These include the What Do You Know? programme, which engaged members of the public in activities related to the judiciary, a Moot Court competition aimed at introducing aspiring lawyers to courtroom ethics and practice, and legal outreach programmes involving judges and lawyers interacting directly with members of the public.
He said the Judicial Service intends to sustain these initiatives annually and would continue to rely on GBC as a key partner in promoting public legal education.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong also appealed for further collaboration between the judiciary and GBC, including the possibility of airing programmes on landmark judgments as part of efforts to educate the public about the country’s legal system.
Receiving the delegation, the Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, said the Corporation was honoured by the recognition but maintained that supporting state institutions formed part of its core public service mandate.
“For us at GBC, we are just doing our work. One of the ways we find legitimacy for our existence is the fact that we have to serve the three arms of government,” he said.
Professor Alhassan assured the judiciary of GBC’s continued commitment to providing quality service to state institutions. He described the judiciary as one of the least demanding but most appreciative arms of government and said GBC would continue to prioritise its partnership with the Judicial Service.
The National President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, who was also part of the delegation, praised GBC for its dedication throughout the anniversary celebrations. She said the success and visibility of such a historic national milestone depended significantly on effective media coverage.
“You cannot have a celebration without good media. It’s like passing in the dark; nobody knows,” she said.
An appreciation citation, signed by the Chief Justice was presented to GBC in recognition of the Corporation’s “selfless sacrifice and gracious presence” during the anniversary celebrations.
Mrs Ghartey said the commemorative citation presented to GBC would serve as a lasting reminder of the Corporation’s contribution to the Supreme Court’s 150-year milestone.
There was a call for stronger collaboration between the Judicial Service, the Ghana Bar Association and GBC in promoting legal education and improving public understanding of the work of the judiciary.
Other members of the delegation are: His Lordship Justice, the Very Rev’d, George Ampiah-Bonney, Justice of the High Court, and member, Her Honour Susan Eduful, Circuit Court Judge, member and Secretary to the Committee, Her Honour Susan Nyakotey, Circuit Court Judge and Member, Ms. Rosemary Mroba Gaisie, Deputy Director of Communications, Judicial Service of Ghana and a former news staff of GBC, Mr. Aboagye, Accountant, with the Judicial Reforms & Projects Department.
The rest are: Dr. Nana Yaw Sapong, Snr. Lecturer, History Department, University of Ghana, co-opted. member. And Mr. Nii Armah Addy representing the Gbese Mantse on the committee , co-opted member.
