Chief Justice advises new judges to uphold best standards
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood on Friday advised judges to be discipline and conduct themselves in a manner that would not bring the bench into disrepute.
She said the judiciary hold enormous powers and as such they must exercise these powers responsibly and within the strict confines of the law.
Mrs Justice Wood was speaking at the swearing-in of 12 new Circuit Court Judges and 10 new District Magistrates in Accra.
The Circuit Court Judges include Aboagye Tandoh, Patricia Quansah, Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, Emmanuel Agyir, Afi Agbonu Kudomor and Mariama Sammo.
The rest are Yusif Abdul Asibey, Ali Baba Abature, Ruby Naa Ayikai Aryeetey, Kwame Amoako, Vivian Ellen-Amoah and Samuel Boakye-Yiadom.
The magistrates are Addo Isaac, Acheampong Opoku Yaw, Agyei Isaac, Ampadu Kudjo Michael and Annin Francis.
Others are Boateng Yaw Charles, Eyiah-Donkor Christiana, Dr Kotoku Worlangyo, Nsemoh Arit and Smith Arthur Dorinda.
The Chief Justice administered to the new judges and magistrates the Oath of Allegiance, Judicial Oath and the Oath of Secrecy.
Mrs Justice Wood told the judges and magistrates that the Judicial Council is vested with powers to remove judges from office for stated misconduct such as corruption, incompetence, gross insubordination or abuse of office.
She said since judges exercise judicial power for and on behalf of the people it is, therefore, pertinent for them to be accountable and ethical.
“The people and the community we serve are entitled to and will indeed judge us strictly by our performance, our competence and our treatment of persons who appear before us and incidentally entrusted us with the judicial power that we wield,” she added.
Mrs Justice Wood said the Judicial Council would continue to monitor and assess the performance of judges.
She said promotion in the judiciary would not be dependent on fellowship, friendship, kinship or long service but on competence, diligence, honesty, hard work and integrity.
Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong, Minister of Justice and Attorney General said the judiciary has a critical role to play in sustaining the current democratic dispensation.
She said for the judiciary to be able to play that serious role it would need the support of the various institutions of state.
She said the current media spotlight on the judiciary is at all time high and they must not do anything that brings the image of the bench into shame.
Nene Amegatcher, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) commended the judges for their new positions and commitment to serve the people with integrity.
He said GBA would continue to work with the judiciary to promote the rule of law in the country.
He urged the new judges to take a stand against family and friends who would want influence their decision because of their relationship with them.
Source: GNA