Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo on Thursday sworn in eight (8) Circuit Court Judges at ceremony in Accra with a charge on the judges to identify golden threads in cases in order to ensure smooth resolution.
According to the Chief Justice, judges should not be deterred with complex matters but rather identify the golden thread in them to resolve such cases.
Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo who administered the Oath of Allegiance, the Judicial and Oath of Secrecy to the newly appointed judges advised them to ensure that their actions in or outside the courtroom shaped the institution of justice delivery in the country.
“As judges, you should be guided by the Code of Ethics of your profession,” she said.
She further reminded the judges to avoid unduly delaying cases since that creates the foundation for backlog of cases.
Ms. Akuffo further advised them to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism in their case management efforts.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Gloria Afua Akuffo congratulated the newly appointed judges and urged them to approach their work with dignity.
According to her, dignity would earned them respect from the bench and the bar.
The Minister of Justice urged the judges to approach their work with all seriousness no matter how small a case might be.
“You should not hesitate to ask if you do not understand the law, no one know all the law,” she said.
The Judicial Secretary, Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, congratulated the judges for successfully going through rigorous recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service and the Appointment Committee of the Judicial Council.
Ms. Addo said as Circuit Judges, they are a point of contact with the public and urged them to give the public a good and positive impression about the bench.
President of the Ghana Bar Association, (GBA), Tony Forson, said the nation expect so much from judges and urged them to refresh themselves with the law.
Mr. Forson urged the Judicial Service not hesitate to crack the whips on erring judges.
“The GBA will expose and petition erring judges to protect the sanctity of the Judicial Service,” he said.
The President of the Association of Magistrate and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), Justice Senyo Dzamefe, appealed to the judges to be discipline by adhering to dates and time they gave.
Mr. Justice Dzamefe said as Circuit Court judges they are to deliver simple and reasoned judgments as to why litigants win or lose cases.
“There should zero tolerance for corruption and be careful of whom you interact with,” he added.
Mrs. Dorinda Smith-Arthur on behalf of her colleague judges promised to administer justice without fear or favour.
The rest of the new circuit court judges are: Alfred Kwabena Asiedu, Veronique Abena Praba Manfort, Charles Kwasi Acheampong, Sylvester Nii Okine Ablorh, Joyce Boahen, Rita Amonyiwah Edusah and Anthony Aduku-Aidoo.
