The Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has underscored the need for Judicial Service staff to ensure efficient court administration to strengthen public confidence in the Judiciary, a critical element for maintaining the integrity of the system. He stated that delays, misplaced files, and lapses in professionalism could undermine the institution’s reputation and erode public trust in the justice system, particularly considering recent departures of experienced personnel.
He was speaking last Monday at the opening of the second Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana (SSAJUG) at Fiapre in the Bono Region. The congress, themed ‘Trade Unionism in the Service, Partnering Management for Quality Justice Administration,’ is focused on improving judicial processes.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that the public did not distinguish between judges and administrative staff, making every interaction with court users critical to the credibility of justice delivery. He asserted that when judges are being lambasted, particularly in the villages, it is not just the judges. It is the Judicial Service, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the responsibility associated with each staff member.
‘The public did not distinguish between judges and the administrative staff of the Judicial Service,’ he said, ‘making every interaction with court users critical to the credibility of justice delivery.’
He said court administration was an essential component of justice delivery, explaining that registrars, administrators, clerks, interpreters, bailiffs, accountants, information technology personnel, and other staff formed the backbone of the system. He cited cases involving loss of property, injury, marital breakdown, child protection, collapsed commercial transactions, and criminal accusations, highlighting that for many people, the court represented the last place to which they could turn.
‘Behind every case number is a human being waiting, often anxiously, for justice,’ he stated, urging staff to recognize the responsibility associated with their work. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie called for a close partnership between management and staff, stating that management had a responsibility to ensure fairness, listen to staff concerns, and provide professional development opportunities. He said the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, cautioned organized labour against rushing into strike action whenever their demands were not met promptly. He said such action could compound the challenges confronting the nation.
Dr Pelpuo stated that although workers had legitimate concerns that needed to be addressed, unions must also consider the wider implications of industrial action and continue to engage management and the government to find lasting solutions. On the congress, the Labour, Jobs and Employment minister said quality justice administration depended heavily on the quality of human resources within the Judicial Service. He said productivity in the Judiciary should not be measured merely by the number of cases processed, but also should encompass the quality of judgments, the accuracy of decisions, the timeliness of case management, professional conduct, and the protection of the confidentiality and integrity of the judicial system.
He said the National President of SSAJUG, Suttah Marilyn E. Maureen, disclosed that a number of competent senior staff had left the service in the past three years to seek greener pastures abroad. She appealed to the Chief Justice to take steps to improve conditions of service to retain skilled staff and refurbish courthouses to provide them with conducive working environments. The author’s email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.”
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Source: Graphic Online
