Supreme Court nominees call for more funds

Accra, May 27, GNA - The issue of leaking and run-down courts rooms and inadequate court houses to aid in the administration of justice in the country took centre stage on Tuesday when two nominees to the Supreme Court appeared before Parliament's Appointment Committee. The nominees, Justice Anin Yeboah and Justice Jones Dotse made a strong case for the Judicial Service to retain 50 per cent of its internally generated funds to enable the Service establish more courts and provide logistics to help the justice system. The nominees, who were responding to questions from the committee, also said it was no longer a perception but a reality that there was some level of corruption in the judiciary. They however said it was mainly a case of people seeking justice being under the wrong impression that one needs to buy one's way to get favourable judgement.

"People need education. Litigants need to be aware that they do not need the intervention of a judicial officer to let judgement go in their way," Justice Yeboah said. On the several courts cases before the courts, Justice Anin Yeboah said courts should be sited all over and the district assemblies should take up some responsibility in providing structures for courts in their local areas.

He however said the Judicial Service could transform the administration of justice if allowed to use half of its internally generated funds for investments. Justice Anin Yeboah also touched on the needs to expedite action on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill, which is yet to come before Parliament.

He said when passed it would cut down on the huge number of cases pending before the courts.

Justice Dotse, on his part, said judges should be insulated against corruption by making sure that they work under better service conditions.