President Akufo-Addo (middle) with 10 new High Court Judges
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday swore into office 10 new High Court Judges, giving the assurance to construct over one hundred new courts and bungalows for them in all 16 regions of the country.
They were Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei, Mrs. Cynthia Martinson, Dr. Bridget Kafui Antonio-Apedzi, Ms. Nabeela Naeema Wahab, His Honour Ebenezer Osei-Darko, His Honour Bernard Bentil, His Honour Alexander Graham, Mr. George Kwame Gyan-Kontoh, Mr. Richard Apietu and Mr. Eric Ansah Ankomah.
President Akufo-Addo told the new judges to exhibit honesty, integrity and a sound knowledge of the law in the discharge of their duties.
“A corrupt or incompetent judge is a danger to the public interest and judicial administration. The situation where judges proffer judgements on the basis of decisions from lower courts and cite them as law is not acceptable, and even less so, when judges cite no authority at all for their rulings, and give orders without reasons,” he advised.
The President added: “You must be learned, know your case law and ensure your decisions and judgements are properly motivated. The principle of stare decisis, the ancient common law doctrine of precedent, has been, and continues to be the time-honoured foundation for the coherent development of the law, and should not be lightly discarded.”
Strengthening judiciary
As part of efforts aimed at strengthening judiciary, the President said he had taken note of the inadequate numbers of courts in various parts of the country, and had decided to remedy the situation.
He disclosed that Government, through the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund, is constructing 100 new courts and bungalows for judges in all 16 regions of the country.
They are broken down in the various Regions as follows – 20 courts and 20 bungalows in Ashanti; 12 courts and 12 bungalows in Eastern; 8 courts and 8 bungalows in Greater Accra; 8 courts and 8 bungalows in Volta; 8 courts and 8 bungalows in Ahafo; seven courts and seven bungalows in Western; and five courts and five bungalows in Bono East.
The rest are five courts and five bungalows in North East; four courts and four bungalows in Oti; four courts and four bungalows in Western North; four courts and four bungalows in Central; four courts and four bungalows in Bono; three courts and three bungalows in Northern; three courts and three bungalows in Savannah; three courts and three bungalows in Upper East; and two courts and two bungalows in Upper West.
“60 percent of these courts and bungalows have been completed, and will be commissioned before the start of the legal year in October. The remaining 40 percent will be duly completed and commissioned by the end of the first quarter of 2023,” President Akufo-Addo announced.
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