Act in the interest of citizens – Anglican Bishop urges judges in Ghana
The pillars of justices must be built to give the ordinary citizen hope just like Jesus Christ in his public ministry, gave people hope
The Anglican Bishop of Cape Coast Rt. Reverend Dr Victor Reginald Atta-Baffoe, has called of judges in Ghana to at all times act in the interest of the citizens of the nation if the Judicial Service is to be able to build the pillars of justice as projected for the 2023/2024 (66th) legal year.
Preaching the sermon at a special service held at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity, high-street, Accra, on Saturday 7 October 2023, to officially open the 66th legal year under the theme; “Building the Pillars of Justice,” Rt Reverend Dr Victor Reginald Atta-Baffoe, said the pillars of justices must be built to give the ordinary citizen hope just like Jesus Christ in his public ministry, acted to reinstate the underprivileged
“In his public ministry, Jesus restored the disadvantaged, the sick was healed, evil possessed persons were set free, the lame walked, blind received their sight, the deaf heard again and even the dead were raised back to live.
“In our day-to-day practice of the law, we have also been called to pay attention to the cardinal points of justice and act in the interest of the public and not in our own interest” Bishop Reginald Atta-Baffoe admonished the congregation during the legal year church service.
Practical principles
Bishop Atta-Baffoe in his sermon proposed six (6) key principles and practical ways he believes can help judges and the entire Judicial Service to build the pillars of justice in the new legal year which is ahead of the third arm of government, the Judiciary.
“First, we are created in the image and likeness of God and each person has a dignity which is not lessened for any reason. Our human dignity is the basis for all our rights, the first of which, is the right to life.
“Second, the rights and duties of each group and individual must be in harmony with all others. All have the responsibility to promote the common good and that is why we have the Commonwealth.
“Third, people have the right and duty to participate in decisions that directly affect them and actively shape their lives and their own destiny. So, participation in political and social life is a virtue and a requirement for the triumph of justice.
“Fourth, the rich have responsibility for the poor and national and international structures must reflect this. The poor are not burdens and the strangers who live among us are not alien. They are our sisters and brothers.
“Fifth, be fair in the process of justice delivery. Our human dignity makes us equal in rights.
“Sixth, be transparent and open in your actions when delivering justice. Be impartial and neutral in the decision-making process because right relationship means giving to others what is owed to them. We must recognize and remember what we owe to those who cannot demand it”.
The LEAD
In her message to herald the new legal year which happens to be her first since assuming office as Chief Justice of the Republic, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, said the judicial service under her watch will focus on four (4) main pillars.
Chief Justice Torkornoo indicated that it is her hope that as the service strengthens the four pillars (law, ethics, assets and due process), it will help build a more efficient and effective judiciary to advance the course of the country.
“The pillars of justice that will be in focus are law, ethics, assets and due process – giving the acronym ‘LEAD’, which is easy to remember. The theme has been chosen to draw all stakeholders into engagement with these four elements in justice delivery, in order to enhance the quality of work done in our courts.
“Without doubt, justice is founded on law. Without law, there can be no inference of justice. But it is also noteworthy that most staff of the Judicial Service of Ghana and external service providers that support the work of the Judiciary are engaged on the basis of their expertise, specializations and disciplines that often do not include training in law, the ultimate product of the courts” Justice Torkornoo wrote in her new legal year message.
“Without a strong consciousness of the constitutionally and internationally mandated ethics that the Judiciary and Judicial Service are required to deploy in our work – independence, integrity, propriety, competence, diligence, avoidance of conflict, avoidance of politics, equality and impartiality – our work will definitely lack the required quality, no matter how many decisions we churn out.
“And so, throughout the year, I trust that all stakeholders will help me deepen the nexus between Law, Ethics, Assets and Due process and the quality of justice delivery.
“It is my fervent desire and commitment that as we do so, the wheels of justice will stop grinding slowly, and begin to grind efficiently, effectively and with increasing finality, so that court users will appreciate the role of the courts in the stability, wealth creation, and security of the nation” the Chief Justice further stated.
Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming on facebook.com/asaase99.5. Also on YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#Asaase321
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeAreHere
#WeLoveOurLand
#SafeMotorway4All
