Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice, on Friday appealed to the Government to increase the budgetary allocation to the Judiciary to expedite reforms being carried out. He noted that the Judiciary played a critical role in the implementation and enforcement of the principles of democracy namely respect and protection of human rights and upholding the rule of law. "We must, therefore, be sufficiently equipped to perform these important functions effectively."

The Chief Justice made the remarks at the launch of a two-year training programme for Judges and Magistrates in Accra to equip them with modern techniques in administering justice effectively and to have a pool of core trainers among Judges.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO), Canadian non-governmental organisation is funding the training programme with 600,000 dollars. Magistrates and Judges are also expected to embark on exchange programme during the two-year training programme. Mr Justice Acquah noted that out of the various budgetary allocations the Judiciary received the least, which he said was posing a great challenge to the Service.

He noted that some courts in the districts were in the deplorable state saying: "At Assin Fosu, the District Court is being housed in a container."

He further appealed to the donors to assist the Judiciary by providing funds for putting up its five million dollars Training Institute.

"For its my dream to create a Judiciary which is at the cutting edge of legal thinking and legal innovation in West Africa. "This dream can only be realised through continuous education and training of not only Judges and Magistrates, but also the support of staff of the Service," he said.

He said Canada as part of its international Policy statement for 2008, had pledged to quadrupled its assistance to Ghana. Mr Kweku Agyeman Manu, a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, commended the Canadian Government for its immense support to the country over the years.