General News of Saturday, 18 October 2003

Source: GNA

Chief Justice ask Judges to live above reproach

Nsuta (Ash), Oct. 18, GNA - The Chief Justice, Justice George Kingsley Acquah, on Friday urged Judges to live above reproach and work conscientiously so that the country could be listed among enlightened nations.

He said classifying a society as a civilised one, depended largely on how respectable and accessible its justice system was. Mr Justice Acquah said this, when he officially inaugurated a Circuit Court at Nsuta in the Sekyere West District of Ashanti. He urged his colleagues at the bench and the bar to co-operate with him to realise his vision of making the Judiciary a shinning national edifice.

Mr Justice Acquah warned the public against enticing judges with gifts and favours thereby influencing them to pervert justice. The Chief Justice commended the government for making efforts to make the Judiciary viable but appealed to the authorities to give the arm of government financially autonomous.

Mr Justice Acquah announced that plans to upgrade the knowledge and skill of all categories of staff of the Judicial Service were far advanced.

The Nsutahene Nana Adu Adjei Bonsafo III, commended government for establishing a Circuit Court in the town.

Nana Kofi Asante, the Presiding Member of Sekyere West District lauded the Chief Justice's efforts to increase the number of courts in the country in order to ensure justice.

The Presiding Member appealed to judges to dispense justice without fear or favour to promote the country's young democracy.

Mr Justice Acquah later unveiled a plaque to inaugurate the court, which was followed by a moot court sitting.

The Court, which operated as a Community Court but became defunct for the past eight years, has been refurbished.