Mrs Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, the Chief Justice, says the Judicial Service can build a Justice system that is truly citizen-centred and efficient by fostering collaboration in expanded Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, and leveraging technology.
She said if all community leaders helped the courts by keeping a keen look out for how the systems could be enhanced, they would keep making the pillars of justice stronger, and the edifice of justice delivery more comfortable for use by all.
Chief Justice Torkornoo was speaking at the 2024 Annual Chief Justice’s Forum, held in Takoradi, on the theme: “Building the Pillars of Justice through Leadership, Innovation and Technology.”
The forum was attended by some members of the Ghana Bar Association, Justices, traditional and religious leaders, heads of departments, and media, among others.
It provided a platform for the Judiciary and Judicial Service to account to the people regarding how justice was being administered while soliciting feedback on improving justice administration.
Chief Justice Torkornoo said: “Justice delivery is like building a house. It must have strong foundations, identifiable walls, a strong roof from which nothing leaks into the house, doors that one can enter the house through, windows from which you can look out, and well-furnished rooms from which the house owners can live comfortably.”
She stated that within the justice delivery system, there were structures that allowed citizens to participate in justice delivery through being mediators, tribunal panel members, and jurors.
“I am confident that it is the good and strong interweaving of these structures that has helped to build this robust national system of justice that has brought us together today,” the Chief Justice noted.
Chief Justice Torkornoo, thus, urged the courts to give citizens the most effective and efficient judicial services possible so that all citizens could have their disputes resolved efficiently, quickly, effectively and with finality.
To enhance the efficiency of court processes, she stated that the Judicial Service had since 2019 piloted an integrated E-Justice platform in the 52 courts in the Law Court Complex in Accra as part of the Service’s digitalisation agenda.
She noted that the vision was to break the trauma of constant adjournments, waste of money and time through interminable journeys to courts, and to provide less confrontational means to resolving disputes with finality.
The Chief Justice, however, said mainstreaming technology for all courts had been slow mainly because of the vast infrastructure needed to make an integrated virtual system work well.
Chief Justice Torkornoo said: “One needs stable power, stable internet connectivity, dedicated servers and a robust stock of devises that must be constantly maintained and changed, including staff that are trained to use them.
Having started the journey, please be assured that we will continue the commitment to all forms of innovation to make justice delivery easier and better.”
She thanked all Judges and staff for their dedication to duty, commitment to ethical conduct, and readiness to embrace technology to advance the justice delivery system in the country.
Mrs Diana Asonaba Dapaah, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, urged policymakers, members of the Judiciary, legal professionals, and community leaders to recognise their importance in creating a just and equitable society for all.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, appealed to the Chief Justice to consider increasing the number of high courts in the Region to make justice delivery accessible to the people.
Mrs Efua Ghartey, National President of the Ghana Bar Association, called on her members to do everything within their capacities to enhance the citizens’ access to justice delivery system in the country.
GNA