CJ swears in four new Career Magistrates

The Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, on Monday swore in four trained career magistrates to occupy vacant positions in District courts.

The Career Magistrate Programme is a two-year programme for non-lawyers to be trained as Career Magistrates to occupy vacant positions in district courts.

The Chief Justice in swearing-in the magistrates led them to take the Oath of allegiance, the Judicial Oath and the Oath of secrecy.

Mrs Wood expressed believe that, with the intensive training in ethics, the magistrates would conduct themselves properly at the bench.

Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe, the Director of the Career Magistrate Programme called on the magistrates to judge others with humility, utmost integrity, patience and civility in order to enhance public confidence in the judiciary.

He said for the new magistrates to become good judges, they must be continually reading in order to update their knowledge in substantive law and procedure.

“Do not rush into judgement, when you are faced with a new point of law or procedures, adjourn the proceedings in order to acquaint yourselves with the said points and when in difficulty consult,” he added.

Mrs Elizabeth Ankama, the Vice President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana urged the judges to conduct themselves to help promote the integrity of the judiciary service.

She called on them to respect members of the bar and civil society, who use the courts but should not allow them to intimidate them.

“Be fair and courteous in the delivery of justice, she added.

The new magistrates are Magdalene Thompson, John Sam, Edith Lucy Dzemeku and Maxwell Maxibriam Titriku.