The President General of the Center of Awareness Global Peace Mission, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, has stressed the need for judicial independence and integrity in Ghana. He said the call was to help realize the desired peace before, during, and after the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Prof. Duncan delivered his opening remarks as the chairman of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) in Cape Coast, under the theme “Judicial Independence and Integrity: Critical Tools for Peaceful Elections 2024”.
He pointed out that integrity and judicial independence were perfect for Ghana and pillars that enhance functioning democracy. He explained that once the judiciary is free from external influence and committed to fairness, then justice will prevail. He said citizens rely solely on the judiciary for dispute resolution in elections, adding that the absence of peace begets insecurity.
Prof. Duncan tasked the membership of JUSAG to be on the lookout for possible deeds that will test their strengths and weaknesses in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
He noted that once the judiciary lives up to expectations, the public will repose confidence in it as the beacon of impartiality, integrity, and the ultimate in protecting the constitutional rights of Ghanaians, resulting in their accepting the outcomes of the election results.
The President General of the Center of Awareness (COA) Global Peace Mission, expressed his commitment to helping find sustainable solutions to issues confronting Ghana’s peace and the world at large.
Ghana’s Chief Justice, Mrs. Getrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, delivered her keynote address and called for judicial integrity, competence, and independence as the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) commemorated its golden jubilee celebration.
She asked JUSAG members to prioritize the welfare of the vulnerable by adhering to the 1992 Constitution and principles of state policy.
She lamented the alleged exploitation and corruption plaguing the judiciary service these days. She attributed these negative deeds to what she puts as “personal gains over service”.
Mrs. Getrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo urged the JUSAG members to apply their conscience and moral principles when discharging their duties.
She hoped the judicial service staff service would deliver excellent public service with independence, fairness, and integrity.
To enable the judiciary to live by the tenet she has been preaching about, Mrs. Torkornoo expressed her commitment to passing instruments to help attract local and foreign investors into the country. This and others she highlighted when done, will help change negative perceptions that the society holds that “the judiciary service is corrupt and inept”.
As part of the event, some personalities received recognition for their positive impact on JUSAG’s forward march.
The Judiciary Service Staff Association of Ghana was founded in 1973 at the Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast to honor individuals for their dedicated service and impact on JUSAG’s positive growth. The association has since been dedicated to advocating the welfare and professionalism of its members.
