Justice is not for sale - Most Rev Asante

Accra, Oct. 6, GNA - Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Accra, at the weekend advised the Judicial Service not to commercialize justice but rather stand up for what was right.

Most Rev Prof. Asante said: 'Justice cannot and must not be commercialized; justice is not for sale and therefore must not be for the highest bidder'.

He said this at the inauguration ceremony of the 58th Legal Year of the Judicial Service in Accra to re-instill confidence and trust of the citizenry in the Service after an alleged bribery scandal.

The ceremony was held on the theme, 'Deepening Public Trust and Confidence in Justice Delivery.'

He urged members of the Service not to show partiality or be frightened by any Authority or body in the course of exercising their duties.

The Guest Preacher quoted excerpts from the Holy Bible where 'Moses identified some of the inner qualities of good judges as fairness, impartiality, character spread, and ability to recognize one's limitations'.

He also called on members of the Service to exhibit kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, stressing that the time has come for judges to stand up and be counted to salvage their reputation as people who have the singular responsibility to deliver justice to the country to deepen public trust and confidence in justice delivery.

Most Rev Prof. Asante noted that the recent exposures of alleged corruption calls for sober reflection and meditative journey to the innermost part of members of the Service to examine real lives to see whether they truly execute what is right.

He also advised them to open themselves to the searchlight of the impartial judgment for which they were assigned, adding that they should reflect on the mistakes they have made and change from it.

Justice Alex. B. Opoku, Judicial Secretary told the GNA in an interview that the ceremony was a time to reflect on the incidents that have happened in the course of justice delivery and rededicate themselves to their beliefs as well as what is right.

The Judicial Secretary speaking on behalf of the Chief Justice Georgina Wood, said urged Ghanaians to expect a strong judiciary that is dedicated and ready to exercise justice to the citizenry as expected of them in the new legal year.

'The Chief Justice urges Ghanaians to have confidence in the judiciary because they will deliver as expected of them and the alleged bribery scandal will be dealt with in the right manner', he said.

GNA