On Monday, July 18, 2022, the President inducted ten (10) Justices of the High Court into office, the fifth time I have done so since becoming President of the Republic. Mrs. Cynthia Martinson, Dr. Bridget Kafui Antonio-Apedzi, Ms. Nabeela Naeema Wahab, His Honour Ebenezer Osei-Darko, His Honour Bernard Bentil, His Honour Alexander Graham, Mr. George Kwame Gyan-Kontoh, Mr. Richard Apietu, and Mr. Eric Ansah Ankomah, all seated. They are eminently fit and qualified for the position of High Court Justices, and they possess the impartiality of mind and independence of spirit required to hold this high office.
In my speech, he also mentioned that the government, through the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund, is building one hundred (100) new courts and bungalows for Judges in each of the country's sixteen (16) regions. Sixty percent (60%) of these courts and bungalows have been completed and will be ready for use by the start of the new legal year in October.
Three of the six new High Courts being built for the six new Regions (Ahafo, Bono East, and Oti) will be completed and ready for commissioning by October. In September, a new, modern Court of Appeal complex in Kumasi will be completed and commissioned, along with twenty (20) townhouses and a guesthouse to serve as permanent residences for Court of Appeal Judges based in Kumasi.
High Court Judges
Swearing in the new High Court Judges, he stated that they are eminently fit and qualified for the position of Justices of the High Court, and have the impartiality of mind and independence of spirit required to hold this high office, based on the advice of the Judicial Council, as provided for in article 144 clause 3 of the Constitution.
As a tribunal, the High Court is described as a superior court of record with original, general jurisdiction. In addition to these, two hundred and ten (210) vehicles were, earlier this year, distributed to all judges in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Courts and Lower Courts.
"A corrupt or incompetent judge endangers the public interest and the administration of justice." The situation in which judges issue judgments based on lower court decisions and cite them as law is unacceptable, and it is even worse when judges cite no authority at all for their rulings and issue orders without giving reasons," he added.
"You must be learned, know your case law, and ensure your decisions and judgments are properly motivated," the President continued. The ancient common law doctrine of precedent, stare decisis, has been and continues to be the time-honored foundation for the coherent development of the law, and should not be lightly discarded."
"Sixty percent (60%) of these courts and bungalows have been completed and will be ready for use before the start of the legal year in October." The remaining forty percent (40%) will be completed and commissioned by the end of the first quarter of 2023, according to President Akufo-Addo.
"Six new Regional High Courts are also being built in the newly created regions, namely Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, and Western North," he added. Three of the Courts, in the Ahafo, Bono East, and Oti Regions, will be finished and ready for commissioning by October. The other three, in North East, Savannah, and Western North, are nearing completion and will be ready for commissioning by the end of the year.
These are all initiatives being undertaken by Government to strengthen the capacity of the Judiciary.
Comments
Post a Comment