The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Sophia Akufo, has described the current budgetary allocation to the Judiciary by government as woefully inadequate.
According to her, the meagre amount is not even released on time by the Executive arm of government which puts a lot of pressure on the judiciary.
Justice Akufo added that there must be a total re-look at funding for the Judiciary in line with article 127 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.
Delivering the keynote address at the 37th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana held at the LA Palm Beach hotel, under the theme: ‘Judiciary, A Bastion of Democracy,’ the Chief Justice said the time has come for a national debate over a special percentage allocation of the national budget for the funding of the Judiciary in the country.
Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana, Justice Victor Ofoe has made a passionate appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to immediately rectify all outstanding issues regarding their conditions of Service.
Delivering the welcome address at the 37th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana, Justice Ofoe said the current poor conditions of Service of Judges and Magistrates pose a serious threat to the preservation and protection of Ghana’s Democracy.
According to him, the poor conditions of service of Magistrates and Judges opens avenues for them to engage in corrupt activities in order to survive.
Justice Ofoe therefore called on the Executive arm of government to find a lasting solution to this rather overlooked challenge of the Judicial Service.
Source:Starrfmonline.com