I’d ensure ‘quality judges and quality justice delivery’ in Ghana - Justice Akuffo

Chief justice-designate, Justice Sophia Akuffo, has said quality judges and quality justice delivery for all Ghanaians would be her vision for Ghana’s judiciary if approved as the country’s Chief Justice.

At her vetting Friday morning in Accra by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Justice Akuffo said her tenure would ensure there is quality judges who will deliver quality justice for all in line with the laws of the land.

She told the Committee her vision for the judiciary is “Quality judges delivering quality justice for all in accordance with the constitution and doing it with the optimal application of technology of whatever sort that will help in delivering quality justice.”

That, she explained, would entail effectiveness, saying “Effectiveness is one of the characteristics of quality justices. It covers the assurance [that] the public have; that.. when they come to the hall of justice they will receive justice”.

The 67-year-old who is the second most senior judge of Ghana’s Supreme Court was nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to replace Justice Georgina Theodora Wood who retired as Chief Justice of Ghana on June 8, 2017.

Her nomination was in line with Article 144(1)(2) which require the selection of a Chief Justice to be done by the President in consultation with the Council of State but subjected to the approval of parliament.

Though her vetting was initially scheduled for June 19, the current vacuum created by the exit of Mrs Wood necessitated the process to be pushed to Friday, June 16, 2017. She’s being vetted by the 26-member Committee