Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood did not mince words yesterday when she grieved over the manner in which the judiciary is being disparaged by some sections of the public.
She said, �Ill-motivated attacks, dressed no doubt in intemperate or vituperative language and laced with doses of misinformation, sometimes plain falsehoods, intimidations and threats on persons who have decided to place their lives and services at the disposal of their countrymen and women to the best of their ability and conscience, does not augur well for our fledgling democracy.�
The Chief Justice was speaking at the swearing-in of a High Court Judge and five Circuit Court judges in Accra yesterday.
The High Court judge, Justice Rosetta Bernasko-Essah (Mrs.) is said to have expertise in oil, gas and energy-related matters, while the Circuit Court judges were Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, Eva Bannerman-Williams, Janet Anima Maafo, Rita Agyemang-Badu (Mrs.) and Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew.
When the MC announced that the Chief Justice was going to make �brief remarks� after swearing-in, she (Chief Justice) took the microphone and replied: �I am not going to be brief: There are a few issues I have to address.�
Admitting that members of the judiciary were not a special class of citizens who were above the law and exempted from criticism, Justice Wood said the unwarranted and undue criticisms of judges had the tendency to bring the administration of justice into disrepute and at the same time threaten the independence of the judiciary.
�The attacks and indignities heaped on the judiciary, and which acts are aimed at denigrating and undermining the judiciary are indeed wrongs perpetrated against the other branches of government, against the entire governance structure and indeed the state.�
She said, �He who threatens judicial independence destroys not merely the judiciary, but the rule of law and the smooth functioning and growth of the economy.�
A stern-looking Chief Justice said, �As judges, you will realise that the dignity and stability of our government with respect to all the three arms of state, namely the executive, legislature and the judiciary, and the morals of the society at large and its fortunes depend upon an upright, that is to say honest, robust and independent judiciary.�
She urged the new judges and all others to �courageously� defend the constitution and the laws of Ghana, adding, �Handle constructive criticisms graciously and in good faith and utilize them to put right what is perceived as wrong so we can build a strong judiciary.�
Justice Wood advised judges to do well to be �completely independent of public opinion, the media, pressure groups and vested interests of any kind�, adding, �Strive at all times, in your decision-making to be free from influences extraneous to the case before you�.
�You have the support of God, the Judicial Council and all well-meaning Ghanaians to perform in accordance with the judicial oath that you have undertaken. That is your contribution to the fight against the rule of oppressors; as prayed in our national anthem.�
Ebo Barton-Odro, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, tasked the judges to see their call as an �obligation to dispense justice without fear or favour and also be firm in your work�.
�See the work of a judge as delegated by God because He is the God superior,� Mr. Barton-Odro added.
Frank Beechem, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), advised the judges to abide by the oath and dispense justice without fear or favour, saying, �We expect the highest honour of all of you and we pledge our support to you.�
Mrs. Justice Bernasko-Essah, in an acceptance speech on behalf of her colleagues, said they were aware of the challenges ahead and promised to dispense justice without fear or favour.
By William Yaw Owusu
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