Accra, April 30, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mr George Kingsley Acquah on Friday said the time had come for the Judiciary in Africa, to assist one another by exchanging information, ideas and notes. He said it was necessary, therefore, to complete discussions on the establishment of the Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Chief Justice expressed this sentiment when Mr Justice Mustapha Akimbo, Chairman of the Nigeria Anti Corruption Commission, paid courtesy call on him at his office in the Supreme Court in Accra. Mr Justice Akimbo before becoming the Chairman of the Commission was the immediate Past President of the Nigeria Court of Appeal. Born 72 years ago, the Chairman attended Odorgonor Secondary School in Accra and could speak the Ga Language.

The Chief Justice said currently, Ghana was providing The Gambia with judges.

Mr Justice Acquah said there were three women at the Supreme Court of Ghana, three at the Court of Appeal and many more at the High Courts, who with their male Learned Friends constituted the Superior Court of Judicature of Ghana.

He told his guest that like the Anti-Corruption Commission in Nigeria, Ghana had the Serious Fraud Office (SOF) that investigated public officials who wilfully caused financial loss to the State adding that the Judicial Service had also established a Complaint Unit to investigate corruption, fraud, missing dockets and undue delay of cases among other things.

Justice Akambi said there were five Courts of Appeal in Nigeria and commended Ghana for forging ahead to establish more Appeal Courts. He said he was happy that Justice Acquah was bent on curbing corruption in the Judicial System, saying in Nigeria Judges were well paid and, therefore, saw no reason why they should show corruption in the performance of their duties.

Mr Justice Akambi, who retired as the President of the Nigeria Court of Appeal in 1999, remarked: "A Judge is expected to live above board."

Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, Chief Executive Officer of Elzak Media Consult, who accompanied Justice Akambi presented "T" shirts, badges and stickers on anti corruption to the Chief Justice on behalf of the Chairman. 30 April 04