CJ swears in new judges, magistrates

Twelve circuit court judges and 10 district court magistrates have been sworn in, with a call on them to handle the administration of justice decently and responsibly.

Making the call, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, who administered the oath of allegiance, the judicial oath and the oath of secrecy, cautioned the newly appointed judges against giving the Judicial Council the unpleasant duty of applying the ultimate sanction.

'It is important to bear in mind that a judge may be removed from office for stated misconduct such as corruption, incompetence, gross insubordination or abuse of office,' she said, adding that the Judicial Council would closely monitor their competence in order to preserve the integrity and fairness of the judiciary.

Mrs Justice Wood told the judges that their appointment was not a gift but that their recruitment had been transparent, competitive and fairly done, for which reason they must be motivated to achieve the highest level of excellence in their careers.

For her, the office the judges had chosen was not for gain, fame, profit and honour but rather for pure public service.

'It is only by dint of hard work, honesty and integrity that you will serve the people of Ghana well and leave a lasting legacy for succeeding generations,' she added.

Congratulating the new judges and magistrates, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, said it was their responsibility to preserve the judiciary as an 'independent and fearless institution'.

According to her, media attention on the judiciary was at an all-time high, for which reason it behoved them to earn the needed public respect and trust.

The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Nene Amegatcher, and the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), Mr Justice Dennis Agyei, asked the judges and magistrates to eschew acts that had the tendency to tarnish the image of the profession.

While Nene Amegatcher entreated them not to allow their work to be undermined by their subordinates, Justice Agyei served notice that the AMJG would constantly scrutinise the conduct and performance of its members.

Story: Sebastian Syme & Francesca Annicchiarico / Daily Graphic / Ghana

The new judges in a pose with members of the bench including the Chief Justice, Attorney General Mariatta Brew Oppong and Ambassador Victor Gbeho