Judiciary Must Ensure Investor Confidence - CJ

HIS LORDSHIP the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Edward K. Wiredu, has called for a modernization of the court system to keep pace with technological advancement in order to ensure investor confidence in the country.

He said the main business of the Judicial arm of government is to ensure that "justice flowed like a river."

The CJ, who was commissioning a ?212 million building to house two high courts created last year, noted that court houses and infrastructure had been neglected over the years and stressed the need to modernize these facilities as a matter of urgency.

He assured that his administration would work to rectify the decay that had rendered the Judicial Service financially handicapped.

CJ Wiredu said the Judiciary will have to cease to be treated like a ministry in all its affairs and that as a third arm of government resources must be available to it as such.

According to the CJ, the control in any form on the budget of the Judiciary constitutes interference with the independence of the Judiciary.

Justice Wiredu assured that he would work to improve upon the existing infrastructure and create the necessary foundation for the take-off of the Judiciary in dispensing justice without delay, fear and favour.

He further assured that a Court of Appeal would be established in Kumasi as soon as resources are available.

The Chief Justice appealed to District Assemblies to allocate part of their Common Fund to the building and rehabilitation of court buildings and residential accommodation to enhance administration of justice.

He warned that the Judiciary was ready to deal with violent crimes and directed all courts and tribunals to expedite action on criminal cases before them.

The Supervising High Court Judge (Ashanti), Mr. Justice G. M. Quaye drew the attention of the CJ to the non-existence of a library at the Judicial Service in Kumasi and the need to establish one soonest for effective functioning of the system.

With the commissioning of the new court building, Kumasi now has six high courts besides three circuit courts, two regional tribunals , two circuit tribunals and four community tribunals.

The Regional Minister, Hon. S. K. Boafo, himself a lawyer and member of the Bar pledged that the RCC in conjunction with the KMA would support the Judicial Service by way of maintenance of infrastructure.

* Meanwhile, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, MP for Old Tafo-Suame has said the fall in the rate of inflation, the decline in interest rates and the stability of the cedi are indicators of positive development in Ghana's economy.

"These achievements against the major currencies over 10 months of NPP rule are the result of positive development," he told his constituents at Pankronu, near Kumasi last week.

With this stable economy, investors are bound to come and invest in the country.

According to him, the investor is forthcoming if he has the assurance that his property would not be whimsically confiscated.

The MP explained that it is for attracting investors to further boost the economy that the President has embarked upon numerous trips.

Mensah-Bonsu is not happy that a few people seem to creat a situation of insecurity by their action and pronouncements with the intent of deterring investors.

He, therefore, appealed to the leadership of TUC to work for the sustenance of industrial peace which it (TUC) had created over the years in order to attract more investors.

This way, he noted, the large army of unemployed would be employed and thereby help improve the economy in the long run.

Mensah-Bonsu assured that the NPP government is on course and that President Kufuor would definitely take the country out of the woods.

According to the MP, who is also the Deputy Government Whip, the President is in firm control of affairs and would not take the aspirations of the people for granted.