Request for magistrates attracts low response

ONLY 20 applicants have so far responded to advertisements to fill 79 vacancies in the Judicial Service as magistrates, following the abolition of the tribunal system.

A Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice G. K. Acquah, said following the decision to abolish the tribunal system, lower courts are now to be solely manned by qualified magistrates, but stated that the service has failed to attract qualified persons to preside over the courts because of the unattractive conditions of service in the Judicial Service.

He was speaking at a National Children’s Forum organised by the Child’s Rights International, an NGO, and sponsored by UNICEF.

The forum, which was on the theme, “A world fit for the African child,” discussed among others the issues that emerged at the UN Special Session on Children held in New York recently.

About 50 children from child rights clubs from all over the country attended the two-day forum.

Mr Justice Acquah said the Judicial Service has engaged a consultant to come up with improved service conditions for officials of the service in order to attract more qualified personnel to the lower courts.

He said if this is not done quickly it could hinder the speedy trial of cases in the law courts.

Mr Justice Acquah also expressed concern about the fact that there is no provision in the criminal legislation dealing with child traffickers. He said “the nearest provisions we have in the Criminal Code 1960, Act 29, as amended, deal with kidnapping, abduction of unmarried female under 18 years and child stealing,” adding that, “the definitions of the offences and the scope of the operation of the criminal legislation are not enough to answer the transnational child trafficking.

He called for an all-embracing legislation on human trafficking to counteract both child and adult trafficking.

He also called for a critical look at the Juvenile Justice System, saying that “there is the need to keep children out of prison because it is not the proper place to keep a young offender.”

In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Gladys Asmah, said the ministry’s main goal is to improve the life of all Ghanaian children by promoting the survival, protection, development and participation of children in national development.

In this regard, she said the ministry will create awareness about existing legal provisions in place for their protection and implementation. Mrs Asmah also stated that the ministry is setting up a multi-sectoral committee to develop a comprehensive plan of action that will address issues confronting children in a holistic manner.

The Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, Mr Alfred Kofi Appiah, said keeping information on national issues away from children will limit their understanding and their level of participation in events that concern them. He said there are about 158,000 children with no skills who have completed JSS and are on the streets.

He said the implication has been that there is a constant increase in adult illiteracy and unskilled people in the system. Mr Appiah said the organisation is, therefore, aimed at training and equipping the youth to be patriotic and hard working and be able to live more responsible lives in future.

A resolution representing the views of the children on national issues concerning the promotion and protection of the welfare of children in Ghana will be presented to the Speaker of Parliament later.