ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Ultimately, these courts help to protect children against miscreants who will now know that the system is better prepared to deal with their acts.
Another way in which women Judges can combat harmful cultural practices is the mentoring of women and girls.
I began my address with the depressing story of Bintu and Ramatu.
I conclude on a happy note with the story of Sala Abudu.
In her own words, ‘ I was once a head porter (popularly referred to as Kayayei).
I come to Accra from Tamale in the Northern Region every vacation to engage in kayayei business while in my first year of Junior High School.
I dropped out of school during the second year of Senior High School because I couldn’t endure the stress any long, so I fully joined the Kayayei business until I was introduced to the Chief Justice Mentoring Programme by Purim African Youth Platform.
It gave me hope and really empowered me to go back to school, and UNFPA and PAYDP has been supportive ever since ’.
The Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme which Sala Abudu referred to was introduced in 2008 by former Lady Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.
It was designed as an educational programme of the Judicial Service for students in Second Cycle Institutions to familiarize themselves with the work of the Judiciary in Ghana.
It serves as a platform for participating students to interact with members of the Bench and the Bar to demystify the legal profession and to encourage students to consider future careers in the legal profession.
With the support of the UNFPA, the Programme was expanded in 2016 to include young kayayei who had dropped out of school but still had the ambition of furthering their education.
Sala Abudu was one of such beneficiaries of the Mentoring Programme.
Today she is studying for a BSc in Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Ghana.
She is joined in this happy effect of the Chief Justice’s mentoring program by another mentee at the Accra Technical University.
Since I assumed office in June last year, we have further deepened the Mentoring Programme and established Justice Clubs in Senior High Schools, the first two of which I inaugurated a couple of weeks ago.
The goal is to create a dedicated corps of students in Senior High Schools who have been mentored and equipped with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities to pass on that knowledge to their colleagues and thereby raise the consciousness of young adults in second cycle institutions regarding the concept of rights, entitlements, and obligations which make for a strong regime in the rule of law.
My dear colleagues, it is the stories of the Sala Abudus that give me hope that together, we can win the fight against obnoxious cultural practices on our continent, however long it takes.
May the Lord bless us all as we endeavor to make justice flow down like a river, and righteousness like a never ending stream.
ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LADY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE ENROLMENT OF NEW LAWYERS AND CALL TO THE BAR Date: Friday, 31 st May, 2024 Venue: Accra International Conference Centre My Lord and Lady Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature Honorable Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Your Honors and Worships herein present National President and Members of the Ghana Bar Association Members of the General Legal Council Directors and Lecturers of the Ghana School of Law Deans and Members of the various Faculties of Law Nananom and Nana Hemaa Newly Qualified Lawyers Members of the Media Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning.
It is indeed my great privilege and pleasure to preside over this special meeting of the General Legal Council, that will receive into the legal fraternity, a new batch of qualified lawyers, pursuant to Section 7 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32) “ The General Legal Council shall from time to time hold formal meetings at which duly qualified applicants shall be enrolled and called to the bar, but the Council may at their discretion dispense with the formalities under this section in any particular case”.
It is my pleasant duty as Chief Justice backed by the weight and authority of the General Legal Council, to induct the freshly qualified students of the Ghana School of Law into the noble profession.
By dint of hard work, perseverance and deployment of intellectual acumen, they have earned the right to be called lawyers as from today.
I am delighted, in the presence of proud family members and friends, to officially welcome them into the legal community.
Speaking to families, instructors and all who have had the privilege of witnessing their growth and transformation into legal professionals, let me extend my heartfelt ‘Congratulations’ on this occasion that celebrates your success and the results of years of investment, sacrifice and hard work put into this journey.
You have gone through periods of intense academic pressure that has demanded and stretched your discipline, relentless effort and unshakeable determination to achieve this professional goal.
No one can take this away from you, and so let me assure you that when the nation looks at you today, we do not see just new lawyers, but also, champions of perseverance and resilience.
Congratulations on your new found success.
The proud parents, guardians, mentors, friends and all those who held your hand with the necessary motivation and support, deserve commendation and I join you in thanking them.
The special role of the Director of Legal Education, and all the Lecturers who helped to shape and guide this professional career in law also deserve recognition and appreciation.
Thank you very much, Barima Director and your team.
This morning, I would like to share thoughts with you on three mini themes.
The lawyer and the law, and the lawyer and his society and the lawyer and his profession.
As you prepare to enter the world of lawyers and a relationship with the law itself, it is appropriate to caution that beyond all the joy and excitement you feel today, lies a new trajectory of life that is unrelenting in its demand to practically exhibit and demonstrate knowledge of every aspect of the rules that populate every area of life.
Whether you will practice this profession at the bar of the courts, in the corporate world, within the corridors of legislators, as an academic, or even within the confines of your own business, you are expected to appreciate the nuances and import of legal concepts, precepts, principles and doctrines, and apply them appropriately to all the myriad sets of fact situations that may confront you.
This cannot be achieved without the corresponding sharpening of the skills of listening, hearing, understanding, and processing of facts into lines of law for competent advocacy and expression, as well as skills in researching.
It is important therefore to remind you, that you have been pulled into a world of intense thinking, rumination, enquiry, and evaluation.
The practice of the law is not a space for mediocre exhibition of purported superiority of knowledge, but a space for consistently humble, sober, and reflective models of thinking that will allow you to serve those that depend on you with clarity and benefit.
Please reflect on this fresh set of challenges ahead of you.
Until now, you have spent years studying the law within silos of subject areas.
However, life does not function in silos of subject areas.
Each problem you will be called on to resolve straddles multiple contexts of law.
In effect, as new lawyers, the first step to resolving any legal problem is the proper appreciation of the full expanse of all the areas of law that the specific facts call for.
You can only achieve this when you exercise your minds and intellectual capacities across a wide spectrum in every tiny set of facts.
Your new status carries along with it the understanding in the minds of the public that you are specialists in law, when you are only now going to experience how the law function.
This places an onerous responsibility on you to be competent and diligent at what you do.
So as you jump in excitement, let me also whisper to you to please calm down, and approach this profession with all your ears, mind and thought.
The lawyer and society If there is anything that history should teach us, it is that humanity will always challenge itself and compel the communities we live in to change, or morph.
The history of nations, families and identity of individuals seem to constantly ebb and flow from one structure to another.
Kindly reflect on the structurally strong ways in which society has been changing in the last decade.
The hitherto seemingly resilient doctrine of sovereignty of nations that dominated the history of nations in the last century, and after the first world war is now being challenged on every continent with wars, secessions and ethnic upheavals.
Just when it seemed that democracy as a form of governance had settled down after colonialism, a different wave of asserting power is sweeping across nations.
What does it mean for the governance of contemporary developing nations such as ours?
What contributions can lawyers make to the stability and prosperity of our nations and communities?
How well do we understand how technology and the demands of societies affect the landscape of our legal world?
How well do we understand the legalities that must be applied to issues raging within our immediate environment – unbridled mining of farming lands and forests and global warming.
I believe that we are facing unprecedented challenges that demand our wisdom, resilience, and understanding in how to translate the legal norms that we have learnt in constitutional law, contract, tort, criminal law, intellectual property and apply them to the fact situations of human interaction with technology.
To make this even more challenging, rapid advancements in technology, shifting societal norms and global interconnectedness are compelling a reshaping of the way we must understand law, practise it, and deliver justice.
With this new status of a lawyer, how will you apply research and knowledge to express yourself and guide those who look to you in your role as guardians of the rule of law?
As legal professionals, we must ensure that these situations do not move us from the coherence, harmony, protectiveness and principle based structure of the law.
Our contributions should help build up society, not tear it apart.
Kindly utilize your knowledge and skills positively to advance the development of society even as you represent the interests of your client as a legal professional.
The survival of democracy, rule of law, environment and the nation’s economy must be worth more than any monetary reward you may stand to gain.
The lawyer and their profession .
Finally, I would like to address the issue of the values that the profession demands of lawyers.
In my view, the most critical values for a lawyer is competence and diligence.
In contemporary practice, however, when we are required often to work across varying domains, this imperative is coming comes into even sharper focus.
Competence and the application of it must begin immediately a problem is brought to the attention of a lawyer.
It compels an early review of all technical rules that determine legality, including capacity, jurisdiction and the effect of time.
This initial assessment is not just a formality; it is the foundation upon which the entire legal process rests.
To increase competence in our profession, you as a lawyer must commit to doing the necessary work.
You cannot take shortcuts or assume that the rights and interests of those you serve can be rescued without proper preparation.
The legal profession demands a high level of expertise and we owe a debt to put in all the preparatory hard work, and seek assistance where necessary, in order to deliver quality justice.
In conclusion, I wish to impress on you to prefer the development of a strong moral compass to mere acknowledgement as a lawyer.
The legal profession is a noble one, built on the foundations of justice, fairness and the upholding of fundamental rights.
As one traverses the daily grind of work, you will be certain to encounter myriad ethical dilemmas.
How these challenges are navigated constitutes part of the burden that the lawyer carries.
As guardians of justice, our choices are pivotal in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the legal system remains a solid foundation for the whole society.
Approach your work with a profound sense of duty and responsibility and let your actions reflect not merely your ambitions, but also serve as a testament to the sacrifices of those who paved the way for the progress of the legal profession.
A generation from now, I am confident that the names that have been called today become the names that inspire another batch of new lawyers.
You can make it happen.
REMARKS BY HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024 Members of the General Legal Council Chairperson and Members of the Independent Examinations Committee Director of Legal Education, Ghana School of Law Deans of the various Faculties of Law Distinguished Invited Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Thank you for your presence here this morning.
I am extremely excited this morning I am that finally we have in place a software for the administration of examinations for professional legal education in Ghana, to be used by the Independent Examinations Committee.
I wish to thank all the past Chairpersons; Justice Atuguba JSC, Justice Prof.
Date-Bah JSC, Justice Akamba JSC and Justice Prof.
Kotey JSC (all retired) of the IEC for the various roles they played in the Journey to this software.
My unqualified thanks go to the current Chairperson, and members of the IEC Committee and the staff who have done everything possible to ensure that the journey to obtaining the examination administration software becomes a reality.
Please lets clap for them.
I also wish to thank all stakeholders who have contributed in diverse ways to making the examination administration software available today, including the vendor and IT consultants working with the IEC.
In our world today where technology is transforming the fabric of our lives, digitalization is not just a trend, but a fundamental shift in how we interact, learn, work and grow.
With digitalization, we are able to unlock unprecedented efficiencies, productivity, and innovation, access vast amounts of information, connect with global communities, and automate tedious tasks.
It is in the recognition of digital technology as a catalyst for progress that the General Legal Council embarked on a digitalization project to provide the Independent Examinations Committee with a stable, secure and efficient Website and Examination Results Management System that will facilitate all aspects of the exam including fee collection and upholding examination results for purposes of publication after approval.
With this software now in place, we believe that the integrity of students’ results will be greatly enhanced.
The software is equipped with a secure students’ (including persons with visual impairments) portal that provides access to all candidates to retrieve their examination results and generate reports of their performance.
The examination administration software is therefore a proactive step that would ensure the security of students’ records and results and improve the quality of information available to students.
Additionally, service delivery to students will be greatly enhanced.
Finally, we can turn the page on the antiquated ways where students form long queues to check their results.
The efficient organization of legal education is a core mandate of the General Legal Council which will remain jealously guarded to ensure that quality lawyers are produced annually.
The Council can assure the public that it is always engaged with developing measures to improve the capacities of the operations of the Independent Examinations Committee to enable it to discharge this mandate more efficiently.
The General Legal Council will continue to do everything possible to enhance the operations and activities of the Independent Examinations Committee to protect the integrity of examinations, while simultaneously, affording students the necessary convenience they deserve.
There are challenges with the deployment of technology- Strict Adherence – please practice Skills needed for quality assurance features More room for any cultural influences It is my hope that this software will go a long way to serve its intended purpose and bring relief to its end users.
It is my greatest honour and pleasure to declare this software duly launched.
May God bless all our endeavours.
REMARKS BY THE HONORABLE LADY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, AT THE SWEARING IN OF MAGISTRATES Date: Tuesday, 23 rd July, 2024 Venue: Auditorium, Law Court Complex, Accra My Lords, Justices of the Supreme Court My Lords Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature The Judicial Secretary Honourable Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice Your Honors and Worships National President of the Ghana Bar Association The President of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning Thank you for joining us for this significant milestone in the lives of the newly sworn Magistrates.
The Judiciary is happy to receive the fresh batch of Magistrates to man courts, manage justice delivery and administer justice in every corner of the nation Congratulations to you, new Magistrates, on your choice to serve the nation as part of the Judiciary, and congratulations for this elevation to the Bench.
I have no doubt that the path to this day has not been easy because to become a lawyer is no mean undertaking.
Having achieved same, you have gone on to choose a career on the Bench.
This choice you have made is a heavy one, and I wish to express the appreciation of the nation for considering it.
I trust that the grit and determination you have shown on the arduous journey that has brought you to this ceremony are definitely an indicator of the qualities that you will bring to your duties as Magistrates.
Allow me to speak with you briefly about two of the qualities that the entire justice sector and the nation will be expecting of you.
The first is leadership, and the second is the quality of learning.
Every judicial officer is a leader.
Within the court that you will be posted to, you will be leading a very intricate process of justice delivery, and within the nation, you will be leading the quality of justice that citizens, investors and visitors to the country will experience.
If your appreciation of this heavy role of leadership is faulty, then your work will fall below standard, and the impact of that mal-function will be felt by all court users and indeed, the district that you will work in.
Let me demonstrate this to you.
Chapter 11 of the 1992 Constitution firmly places the mandate and obligation of administering justice on the shoulders of the Judiciary, and not on the Judicial Service of Ghana.
The Registrar and court staff who man the courts, and who you are going to meet in the station you go to, are part of the Public Service, under Chapter 14 of the 1992 Constitution.
Their role is to provide you with support services to deliver on your constitutional mandate.
As a Magistrate, therefore, you will be the face and voice of final authority in the court that you are posted to.
It is therefore your job as Magistrate to lead all the various and diverse actors in the courtroom in the pursuit of truth and justice, and guided by principles of law, the rules of court, and practices that deliver equity and fairness in every act and process.
The buck stops with you.
A leader is not a helpless victim but one who understands the objective and purpose of their role and takes steps to achieve that purpose.
And the role and purpose of the Judiciary is simple.
To administer justice efficiently, expeditiously, and effectively in every part of the country.
As the Magistrate in the court, your leadership must be felt in the watchful eye you keep over the integrity of processes in the District you are being posted to, and how you guide every aspect of court work to produce rulings and judgments that signal an environment in which people can invest and live safely within the District.
(story) You have to be mindful of how administrative processes are being conducted around you and satisfy yourself that they stand the test of the principles of law, rules of court and practices that deliver equity and fairness.
How are bail processes being administered?
How are your orders being executed?
When they do not pass the test of due process, because of lack of diligence, competence or integrity, it is your duty to exercise leadership and call for human resources, material resources or the disciplinary intervention of management if need be.
Do not allow court users to cry out to the Chief Justice to stop abuse by court officials such as bailiffs, clerks, recorders, interpreters, Registrars and sometimes even externals such as prosecutors and auctioneers.
Practices that subvert access to justice and bring reputational damage to the justice sector, such as the preparation of leases and pleadings by court staff that lead to inability of Lands Commission to register the leases, or cases being thrown out or property because of the poor content of the pleadings, or the issue of fake divorce certificates, extortion by bailiffs as a precondition for service of court processes and delayed service, must not continue under your leadership in the districts.
You are part of the Judiciary and I strongly urge you to take the ethics of your work seriously and ensure that everyone in the justice delivery chain acts in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Judicial Service.
I will now address the context of the Judge as a learner.
As much learning as you may have done in the law faculties and the law school, you should appreciate that it is in the courts that the rubber hits the road.
Every case is fact specific.
The issues are unique, and they will require your rapt attention to deliver justice appropriately.
Understand fundamental issues such as jurisdiction thoroughly, and avoid your rulings being constantly taken up for supervisory orders.
Each of these records find their way on to your file, and can affect your journey up the ladder of promotion.
This is why in our profession, we can never stop learning, not even at the Supreme Court.
Any shoddiness with rules of procedure and rules of evidence or substantive principles of law will lead to injustice from your hands.
Do not be impressed by the noise of those speaking extensively and trying to turn attention to themselves in and out of your court room.
Be concerned with the legality of the process, and of your rulings.
So as much as courts work with independence and so cannot compel parties to file processes on time, you must understand that the ultimate use of the rules of court to avoid misuse of the court system lies with the judge.
I counsel you to sharpen your understanding and appreciation of the case management tools provided by law to weed out inequitable practices by court users and court officials that delay justice, including inequitable practices by lawyers and prosecutors, who are officers of the courts.
You also need to urgently sharpen knowledge in the use of technology, and also how law functions in the digital and virtual realms.
Your proficiency in the use of ICT tool must transcend the use of technological devices.
That is the basic level you need to utilize tools of e-justice that will sooner than later, be introduced in your court.
You must also sharpen your knowledge on how to translate and dissect legal issues that emanate from any transaction or situation that occurs electronically, digitally or virtually.
This is the shape of the world.
The world has moved from the use of automated teller machines (ATM) to mobile money interoperability.
Contracts are started and concluded by whatsapp and on instagram.