Accra, Dec. 19, GNA - A three-member Electoral Boundary Dispute Tribunal was on Monday sworn into office by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood at a ceremony in Accra.

The tribunal has Ms Justice Barbara Ward Acquah, a Justice of the High Court (Land Division), as Chairperson, Mr Kofi Otutu Adu Larbi, a legal practitioner and Mr Marcus Amos Tabil, a surveyor at Lands Commission and a legal practitioner as members.

It is dedicated to timely, fair and just adjudication of electoral boundary disputes which may arise from the division of Ghana into many electoral constituencies by the Electoral Commission.

Persons dissatisfied with the decisions of the tribunal may appeal to the Court of Appeal as provided under Article 48 (2) of the Constitution. The Court of Appeal’s decision shall be final.

The newly created tribunal is yet to be given a location, working hours, its registry and when the general public can have access to it.

At the ceremony, Mrs Justice Wood swore-in seven High Court judges made of five women and two men as well as a Circuit Court Judge, Mrs Naa Adoley Azu.

The High Court Judges were, S.K. Sarpong, Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa, Mrs Doris Bempong and Mrs Amanda Juliana Aikins.

The rest were, Mrs Laurenda Owusu, Mrs Olivia Obeng Owusu and Mr Ken A. Okwabi.

Addressing the judges, the Chief Justice urged them not to allow partisan politics to influence their decisions as their appointment was in strict conformity with high standards of integrity, transparency and professionalism.

She reminded them that they had chosen a demanding line of work and it was only with integrity, hard work, commitment and dedication that they would leave a distinctive legacy for the succeeding generation.

Mrs Justice Wood pledged not to interfere with their judicial independence saying by that “You will be empowered to discharge your judicial functions without fear or favour, ill-will or affection".

She said judicial independence was indeed recognised the world over, as a key pillar for the maintenance of law and just social order and the attainment of democratic governance, economic growth and development.

Mrs Wood told the judges that being independent did not mean that members of the judiciary had free rein to do as they pleased, as judges they were not only accountable to the good people of Ghana but God as well.

She said “judges were not above the law but subject to it” saying they (judges) could also be removed from office.

“Judicial power must therefore, be exercised in a transparent and corrupt-free manner,” she added.

She charged the judges to serve the nation truthfully with their heart and soul and not to disappoint people who had vested their energies, time and other resources in them.

“Do not pervert justice, do not show partiality to the poor or favourtism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly,” she said.

Mr Ebo Barton Odro, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General, tasked the judges to be firm and fair saying “Don’t be influenced in anyway and strive to do what is right.”

He said: “Remember you entered this profession from your free volition, be careful the way you carry yourself and be mindful of where to go.”

Mr Frank Beecham, President of Ghana Bar Association, appealed to the judges to strive to produce excellent judgments which would enhance frontiers of the legal profession.

Mr Justice J.B. Akamba, President of Association of Magistrates and Judges, said as the nation entered an election year, they must endeavour to have the laws at their finger tips.