President Akufo Addo is demanding greater transparency and accountability in the judiciary, insisting that public trust is essential for the effective functioning of the country’s democracy.
According to the President, it is only when judges are held to the highest standard of conduct that public trust in the justice system will deepen.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo administered the Oath of Allegiance, the Judicial Oath and the Oath of Secrecy while charging each of the judges to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
“The judiciary should be free from any form of external influence or interference being political, economical or social. It is only through preserving this independence that we can be sure that justice is administered impartially.
“If the rights of all citizens are protected and the oath that judges take to act without fear or favor is fulfilled, we must continue to strive for greater transparency and accountability. The publics trust in the judiciary is essential for the effect functioning of our democracy.
“It is therefore incumbent upon us to ensure that our judicial processes are opened and transparent and that judges are held to the highest standard of conduct.”
The President also called for innovative ways to deal with the backlog of cases in the various courts.
“One of the key challenges that we face is the need to address the backlog of cases that continue to burden our courts. Justice delayed as we already know is justice denied. It is imperative that we find innovative solutions to expedite the resolution of cases to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely manner.
“This will require not only efficient case management, but also the adoption of new technologies and practices that can stream our judicial processes.”
