Women in parliament call on CJ

Accra, July 12, GNA - The Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood on Thursday reaffirmed her commitment to ensure that issues involving women and children were speedily dealt with at the law courts. Issues affecting women and children, she said, went beyond political ties, religion, regional or international boundaries, because they always had the same impact and had to be dealt with in a dispassionate manner and with dispatch.

Chief Justice Wood said this during an interaction with the Women's Caucus in Parliament at her office in Accra.

The Caucus called to congratulate the Chief Justice on her appointment as the First Lady Chief Justice of the country. Chief Justice Wood expressing her surprise and appreciation for the gesture said women were women, irrespective of their education and political ties, needed to be united at all times to push the women's agenda forward.

"I appreciate your support even before I came to Parliament, the support you showed during my vetting, your encouragement even before the appointment and your support till now," she told the female parliamentarians.

Enumerating some of the problems facing the judiciary, Justice Wood said the main issue was the lack of courtrooms and bungalows for staff. In spite of these, however, the judiciary was resolute and determined to work to bring a change in the administration of justice.

"The late Chief Justice began a number of initiatives and brought in new policies that I am going to follow and ensure that they succeed to ensure public confidence in the administration of justice," she said. "Your coming here shows that with your support we would be able to build a judiciary that we would all be proud of," she added.

Mrs. Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsauem and acting Chairperson of the Women's Caucus, said the caucus believed that with a female luminary of the CJ's calibre, "Ghanaians can rest assured that justice in this country would not just be done but would manifestly be seen as being done".

"The Caucus, which has as one of its aims, drawing attention to women-centred issues and to ensure that policies are gender sensitive believes that your appointment would help further the cause of female advancement in this country," she said.

The Caucus assured the CJ of its assistance "in whatever manner possible" to ensure that her administration was a "resounding success". Ms. Akua Sena Dansua, Member of Parliament for North Dayi, appealed to the CJ to ensure the early completion of the Court Complex in Kpando in her constituency.

The Ladies, who presented the CJ with a congratulatory card, later interacted with some Judges and Magistrates in Accra.