By: Kenneth Appiah Bani.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reiterated government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Judiciary to address longstanding challenges confronting the justice delivery system.
Earlier today, Dr. Forson received the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, who paid a courtesy call accompanied by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the Acting Director of the Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, and the Judicial Secretary.
The meeting was also attended by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.
According to Dr. Forson, the Chief Justice explained that the visit was to express the Judiciary’s appreciation for the Ministry of Finance’s continued support towards its operations and reforms.
During the engagement, Justice Baffoe Bonnie identified congestion in the courts as a major obstacle to effective justice delivery, noting that the situation continues to delay the timely resolution of cases. He outlined a number of interventions currently being considered and implemented to decongest the courts and improve overall efficiency within the judicial system.
The Chief Justice also raised concerns about the working conditions of judges and judicial staff, stressing the need for improved infrastructure, logistics, and operational support to enhance productivity and service delivery.
In response, Dr. Forson assured the Judiciary of his readiness to work closely with both the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Justice to confront these challenges head-on. He disclosed that, among the measures under consideration, the Ministry of Finance is examining the possibility of allowing the Judiciary to retain and utilise 100 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to meet critical operational needs.
Dr. Forson noted that strengthening the Judiciary is essential to safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring public confidence in the justice system, adding that sustained collaboration across institutions will be key to achieving meaningful reforms.
