Judiciary document on resolution of electoral disputes

Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood on Monday said the Judiciary was working assiduously to come out with a framework document towards ensuring the resolution of electoral disputes in the country.

Mrs Wood noted that the document which would also look at electoral justice holistically would underscore the important role judges were playin= g in Ghana's democracy. The Chief Justice announced this when a six-member delegation from Togo's Constitutional Court called on her in Accra. The delegation on a three-day working visit, will meet their Ghanaian counterparts to brainstorm on their respective court structures and jurisdictional roles. The visit was facilitated by Hanns Seidel Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Germany. Mrs Wood observed that the documents would act as guiding principles for the judiciary, and noted that one of the concerns raised by Government was to look for the best options for effective constitutional change devoid of acrimony. She, therefore, called on judiciaries in the sub-region to collaborate and share their experiences for their mutual benefit and towards enhancing democracy, peace and development in their respective countries. Mr Aboudou Assouma, President of Togolese Constitutional Court, who led the delegation, commended Ghana for successfully organising four peaceful elections.

On his country, Mr Assouma noted that Togo had managed to organise two successful elections which received international commendation. "We, as constitutional judges of the West African sub-region can enri= ch ourselves from our experiences by enforcing the capacities as judges in order to bring peace and stability in our countries for the benefit of our people whose quest is to live in peace and attend freely to their businesses," he remarked. Mr Assouma noted that democracy was based on a set of values which sustained it, adding those values were free and fair elections and a fair dispute resolution processes because in Africa, elections were synonymous with violence and troubles.