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.
He said delays, misplaced files and lapses in professionalism could undermine the reputation of the institution and erode public trust in the justice system.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie 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 five-day congress is being held on the theme: “Trade Unionism in the Service, Partnering Management for Quality Justice Administration.”
Credibility of justice delivery
He said the public did not distinguish between judges and the administrative staff of the Judicial Service when assessing the performance of the Judiciary, making every interaction with court users critical to the credibility of justice delivery.
“When judges are being lambasted, particularly in the villages, it is not just the judges. It is the Judicial Service,” Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said.
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.
ustice Baffoe-Bonnie said a judge could not sit if the courtroom had not been prepared, while a judgment could not be passed if the administrative processes supporting it failed.
The Chief Justice said every delay, lapse in professionalism and act of courtesy mattered in determining how the public perceived the justice system.
He said the issue was particularly important because people did not go to court merely as a routine activity, but often because something of consequence had gone wrong in their lives.
Cases
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie cited cases involving loss of property, injury, marital breakdown, child protection, collapsed commercial transactions and criminal accusations, saying 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 said and urged staff to recognise the responsibility associated with their work.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie called for a close partnership between management and staff, saying management had a responsibility to ensure fairness, listen to staff concerns and provide opportunities for professional development.
The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, for his part, cautioned organised 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 said 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 should also 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.
Greener pastures
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 said the exodus of experienced personnel could affect the effective administration of justice.
Mrs Maureen, therefore, 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.
Writer’s email:
