Commercial courts meant to settle commercial disputes will be set up in April, next year. They will concentrate basically on cases related to banking transactions, contractual obligations and labour.

Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, Justice of the Supreme Court disclosed this to The Ghanaian Times in an interview in Accra on Thursday at a symposium. The symposium which was organized by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development was under the theme: ?The Judiciary in the Golden Age of Business.?

She stated that no matter what promises were made to investors and no matter what financial incentives were given, if they had not feel the accuracy, efficiency and transparency of the Judiciary ?they would not be interested.?

Ms Akuffo explained that for any nation to have any important development activity, ?we must anticipate that there might be the need for litigations, taking into account how long it takes.?

She said that investors would opt to invest in countries, which had stability and quality justice system before even thinking about security. Consequently, she noted that, the Judiciary should uphold the rule of law so as to foster an environment where business could succeed.

Business, she said, would flourish in an environment of transparency, accuracy and cost effectiveness. ?It is important for the judiciary to see itself not only in terms of delivering judgement but rather processing and coming up with judgement which can make the parties continue with their life?, she said.

Ms Akuffo said that everything the Judiciary did had an immediate impact on the nation and therefore urged the Judiciary to play a role in national policies. ?The judiciary of today is much aware of its short coming and its crucial role in national development,? she said.

Justice G.K. Acquah, a Supreme Court Judge in his contribution to the symposium said that the issue of funding for the Judiciary should be taken seriously. He said that currently some judges did not have chambers and administration staff used the veranda as offices.

The judiciary, he said, was faced with infrustructural problems and needed investment in repairs and fixtures at the offices. He, however, emphasized that the Judiciary would not use that as an excuse to entertain corruption in the system.