Fast Track Courts are here to stay - CJ

The Fast Track Courts (FTC) have come to stay and would be the universal principle on which all trial courts would be based, Mr Justice Edward K. Wiredu, Chief Justice, said on Wednesday. "The Fast Track Courts have come to stay and eventually they will be the universal principle upon which all trial courts would be based."

Speaking at a day's case management workshop for 21 Appeal and High Court judges in Accra, he said, in March last year when the FTC, were opened, some sceptics thought it was going to be a nine days' wonder but they had achieved tremendous strides through individual and collective efforts.

The workshop aims at updating the knowledge of judges, evaluate the performance of the FTCs since their inception and improve proceedings there. He said the FTCs, for the period of 10 months, had received 162 cases and had been able to dispose off 63 cases out of which commercial cases were the highest.

He said, even though FTCs' achievements were highly commendable, '' there is more room for improvement." The Chief Justice said he had authorised the Courts Automation Committee to seek funding for the establishment of Fast Track Family and Juvenile Tribunal.

Mr Justice Wiredu reminded the judges that their performance would be measured by how they managed their cases in court. "As far as my administration is concerned, judicial elevation shall strictly be based on merit. It is only through this that we can build an efficient bench."

He said he was committed to the total transformation of the judiciary, infuse discipline, uphold judicial independence and professional ethics and ensure the improvement in the condition of service of judges.

"I am not unaware that judges in Ghana are the lowest paid in most English speaking countries, but I think that something would be done about it very soon."

Ms Sophia Akuffo, a Supreme Court Judge, said the FTCs characterised by the disposal of cases fast were gaining the confidence of the public and would help to change public perception of the Judiciary.