Judges Told To Interpret Laws Honestly

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday, 08 October 2007
THE 2007/2008 legal year service has been held with a call on the judiciary to interpret the law honestly.

"Set the records straight," said Rt. Rev. McLean Kumi, Head Pastor of the Tema Joint Church, who was the guest preacher at the special commemorative service, which also marked the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Judicial Service.

The service which was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra on Saturday, was under the theme "Strengthening judicial integrity and capability through judicial education."

Rt Rev. Kumi said "there should be transparency in the administration of justice. The judiciary should be seen to be impartial."

"Dispensation of justice should not be seen to be going to the highest bidder. If you are able to avoid such tendencies you will be restoring hope to the poor, the vulnerable and the economically marginalised."

Referring to the National Anthem, he said "from what has gone on over the years, we are our own oppressors but to be able to resist oppressor’s rule we should proclaim our bad past and strive to make Ghana a better place to live in."

Rt. Rev. Kumi said "the time has come for the nation to rise up to achieve true liberation. With poverty, ignorance, diseases, hypocricy, corruption, drug menace dominating the entire society, we cannot call ourselves a sovereign state".

He said the judiciary, through the administration of justice has what it takes to lead the crusade to bring sanity into the system and ensure rapid development of the country.

He, however, cautioned that rapid development will not come if the judiciary is seen to be partial and there is no transparency in the administration of justice.

He said in this age of globalisation where there is booming drug trade, environmental abuse, sophisticated crime, pornography, human rights with no responsibilities, the judiciary will have to position itself in order to overcome all those challenges.

He commended the "Justice for all Programme" being embarked upon by the Ministry of Justice saying, "it signals a beacon of hope and good things to come".

"All those who matter in the administration of justice should endeavour to be part of this programme because it will restore hope to the people".

He urged judges and magistrates to uphold integrity, lead transparent lives and live above reproach for the public to have total confidence in the legal system.

He, on the other hand called on the public to support the judiciary to advance the cause of justice.

In her goodwill message, the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, said "as a service delivery institution, we are fully aware that the demand on us, as the guardians of the rule of law has not waved over time."

She said "following the pursuit of democratic governance in Ghana, an even greater burden has been placed on us to maintain a higher standard of efficiency, as the good people of Ghana have become acutely aware of their rights and freedoms as provided in the 1992 Constitution.

"Our collective and re-dedicated will to deliver equitable justice to all, fuelled by a passion for judicial integrity and work, should enable us to discharge our constitutional mandate without too much difficulty".