ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
It is, therefore, imperative that the Judiciary, as the 3 rd arm of State and Government, understand how critical it is for us to contribute efficiency and expedition in our adjudication role in order to facilitate a safer and more secure maritime space.
I therefore implore all judges to pay very close attention to the peculiar principles highlighted today, and ensure that this occasion becomes truly an effective time of learning.
Please do not hesitate to stop the facilitator, during their flow of teaching, or after the session, to require explanations for niggling issues.
We must remember that as judges, we are the ones who have to determine whether the cords of appropriate rules of court have been properly woven within the basket of evidence brought to us before we can arrive at the conclusion that the burden of persuasion of applicable substantive law has been discharged.
If we lose dexterity in this critical and peculiar judicial call of keeping our eyes on the full scope of procedural rules and the law of evidence, the whole adjudicatory process can suffer weakness that makes our decisions fall on appeal, no matter how much of the theory of law we incorporate into our rulings and judgments.
Even worse is when our orders are far removed from the industrially appropriate context, thereby causing more harm in their implementation than the dispute that came to us.
I recall… Ladies and Gentlemen , I am also informed of a subject that is gaining global prominence and requires our attention here in Ghana; the “Blue Economy”.
This Blue Economy refers to the exploitation of the marine environment for sustainable development.
The following statistics illuminate the potential material benefits it holds; The worldwide ocean economy is valued at about US$1.5 trillion per year.
90% of global trade is via the sea Three hundred and fifty (350) million jobs worldwide are linked to fisheries.
By 2025 it is estimated that 34% of crude oil production will come from offshore fields.
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector and provides about 50% of fish for human consumption.
To efficiently address the challenges of Ghana’s Blue Economy and thereby profit fully from it, we, as a country must watchfully enforce the legal, regulatory and institutional framework that govern the several sectors it spans.
The exciting concept of well defining the contours of the Blue Economy provides the impetus for moving towards a better integrated legal, regulatory, and institutional framework that supports it.
The Blue Economy also offers a new dynamic that can be used to mobilize new inter-institutional linkages across different sectors, marshal support for necessary reforms and fill existing gaps in legislation and enforcement mechanisms.
I therefore advocate strongly for Ghana to develop a cross-sectoral legal, regulatory, and institutional framework not only to aid the prudent exploitation of our Blue Economy but also to provide Judges with a clear legal landscape that aids the efficient and expeditious settling of jurisprudence in this particular area, and the making of relevant orders that support the flourishing of the economy.
I request that as the relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, maritime and legal experts as well as Academia collaborate in this regard, the Judiciary is involved to assist in deepening the harmony of legality that must accompany that task.
My Lord Chair , I must especially acknowledge the Resource Persons for this seminar.
Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, Justice Yaw Darko Asare, and Dr.
Kofi Mbiah who are all home grown and consummate experts in the field of maritime law.
Thank you very much for making the time required to impart your rich experience and knowledge to your colleagues and journey men.
Let me also acknowledge with thanks, the consistent supply of the papers delivered at each year’s seminar to judges.
These materials act as a chair-side reference work, beyond the learning that is imparted at these GSA seminars.
Further to the material from the seminar provided, it is my view that we need to also have an accessible source for judgements in maritime cases that can be easily referenced by judges, lawyers, players in the industry and students undertaking maritime programs.
We need our Ghana maritime law reports.
The cost of this compendium can be highly eased by it being hosted in a website, and downloaded only at the cost of the person who wishes to have a physical version of the material.
In addition to maritime law judgments, this site can also host statutes, regulations, and critical developments that impact the proper development of jurisprudence for the industry.
Clearly, the judiciary also needs to develop practice directions for Judges on the peculiar rules in admiralty jurisdiction, the crafting of orders and the sensitive operations of time within maritime law.
We also need to set out guidelines and manuals for registries on the service of maritime processes and proceedings, the enablement of e-hearings and other processes which will enhance the expedition and effectiveness of the work of courts and assist players in the industry.
I believe that these are projects which the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and its affiliates can undertake with the Judicial Service and provide support for.
I humbly ask for, and look forward to a positive engagement on these in the very near future.
I trust that this relationship which has spawned this annual Maritime Law Seminar for Judges of the Superior Courts of Judicature will grow from strength to strength for the benefit of the shipping and logistics industry and Ghana as a whole.
Thank you very much and long live the annual maritime seminars.
May they contribute to the flourishing of trade and prosperity in Ghana.
I wish you the best of deliberations.
REMARKS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE GERTRUDE TORKORNOO, AT A SEND-OFF LUNCH FOR HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE NENE ABAYAATEYE OFOE AMEGATCHER, JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, ON TUESDAY, JULY 25 2023, AT ALISA HOTEL, ACCRA My Lords Justices of the Supreme Court My Lords Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature The Judicial Secretary The National President of the Ghana Bar Association Members of the Judicial Council Members of the General Legal Council Our Celebrant, His Lordship Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher Family and Friends of Justice Amegatcher, especially Lady Jane Directors and Staff of the Judicial Service Distinguished Invited Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Good afternoon, Let me first thank the team that have put together this wonderful event.
I also want to thank all who have made time to be with us today and to join us to honour Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher.
Every time we gather for one of these occasions, I cannot help but feel the poignancy of the moment.
I know this is a feeling that I share with all of our colleagues who have the privilege of serving our nation at the level of the Supreme Court.
Since he joined in 2018, Justice Amegatcher has become a notable presence, and a strong voice, bringing his considerable experience and tremendous intelligence to the role.
While much of that will not be known to the public, it is only those of us who sit in conference with him who will know the calming effect he exerts, the way he can cut through the mass of opinions to focus on the issues and the way that he is fully and completely animated by an unquenchable desire to afford every citizen in this country their birth right of justice.
In the course of his distinguished career, Justice Nene Amegatcher exuded the codes of excellence that he clearly lives by.
It was his record in both the private and public spheres that placed him in good stead for his role on the Bench.
A private legal career with a record of distinction at the Ghana Bar spanning nearly four decades culminating in the position of Managing Partner of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, National President, Ghana Bar Association between 2012 and 2015, Senior Lecturer at the Ghana School of Law teaching Advocacy and Legal Ethics and other Alternative Dispute Resolution courses, Vice Chair of the African Regional Forum of the International Bar Association from 2015-2017.
These are but a few of the several hats that Justice Amegatcher has worn in an active and fruitful professional career.
It was only a matter of course, then, that such a capable and outstanding advocate would come to serve on the nation’s apex court.
On behalf of all who have served with him, I want to convey our immense appreciation for the privilege of working with Justice Nene Amegatcher.
Not only have we benefitted from his professional acumen, his Christian virtue has always shown through and brightened our work and our path.
What may not be known is how much Justice Amegatcher poured himself out in the service of the nation in different capacities.
His work on the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, Chair of the Virtual Courts Committee, and his co-ordination between his vast networks around the world.
I want Justice Amegatcher’s service to remind us all about the duty we owe our nation.
History teaches us that in moments of social fragility, what will get us through is the service of patriots.
What we need now are people who think of the common good, do not complain about their own difficulties but work diligently for the collective survival.
Ghana needs this today.
The entire world needs people like that today.
Justice Amegatcher was one of them and if we are to prevail, we must all of us, on and off the Bench, aspire to be more like that.
I must veer off and speak on my private knowledge of this beautiful brother of mine But Justice Amegatcher has done his bit and bid him farewell we must, no matter how reluctantly.
I cannot thank you enough for your service, Sir.
You have brought justice to many of your compatriots, expanded freedom and helped make our nation and its democracy safer and more enduring.
After so many years of dutiful service to the law, you deserve a period of rest and my prayer is that the Lord will make it a long and peaceful one.
Thank you all and I wish you the best.
STATEMENT OF THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO ON THE OCCASION OF THE “MORAL VISION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT” CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST AT PENTECOST CONVENTION CENTRE (PCC), GOMOA FETTEH ON WEDNESDAY, 26 TH JULY 2023 His Excellency, Alhaji Dr.
Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic Rt.
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, Former President of the Republic His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Former President of the Republic Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost Hon.
Akosua Frema Osei- Opare, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President Ministers of State The President of the National House of Chief Our Traditional Leaders (Chiefs and Queen mothers) Ministers of God Distinguished Invited Guests The Media I stand on all other existing Protocols In tandem with the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:9, I have not ceased to rejoice and give thanks to God since the day I heard of the convening of this national conference to consider the intertwining of ‘moral vision’ with ‘national development’ by the Church of Pentecost.
I am particularly grateful for the kind invitation and the opportunity to contribute thought at this august gathering of the leadership of our beloved nation.
When all legal principles and edicts have been shorn of their surrounding words and numbering, it is clear that the constitutional mandate given to the Judiciary in article 125 of the 1992 Constitution to administer justice, requires us to maintain and enforce the highest standards of ethical conduct in the nation on one hand, and uphold the innate need of the human soul for justice, on the other hand.
This is a duty that the Judiciary shares with the Church as an institution.
Justice is a sine qua non for peace, stability and quality of life in any nation.
In words attributed to Pope John Paul II, “ If you want peace, work for justice ”.
A nation that loses interest in the rule of law and delivery of justice, is one that sets itself up for destruction.
Thus a quest for justice, and investment in building the pillars of justice in any nation, is a quest to ensure that prosperity will come to the people.
For there can be no prosperity without peace, and there can be no peace unless people are assured that their rights will be upheld, and they will not be robbed of their entitlements.
This, among other reasons, is the reason why I am exceptionally glad that this conference is addressing the matter of good governance and national development as a model enabled only by moral vision.
Is morality subjective?
Can the determination of what is right or wrong be a matter of individual perception, allowing each person or interest group to decide the ethical content and context from which they wish to treat others and be treated?
Your Excellency and distinguished guest, I do not think so.
The humble view of the Judiciary is that to the extent that the nation has chosen to order its affairs in accordance with the rule of law, we have chosen to define our moral context from the basket of legality given to us in the national Constitution, the statutes and enactments of parliaments, the rules and regulations of governing institutions, and customary law as part of the common law of Ghana and as provided for under Chapter 4 of the 1992 Constitution.
To this extent, in the constitution of the national moral vision that is undertaken through the conversations and discussions of this conference, it is my fervent hope that all issues will be examined from the sure foundation of law, equity and good conscience.
It is my conviction that in our kaleidoscope of ethnicities, belief systems, vocations and talents, the elements of the laws of Ghana, the rules of equity, and innate values that flow from good conscience can surely bind our hearts and minds together and assist us to arrive at a nationality accepted vision of morality.
Such a vision can then drive the mind with which we walk, talk and work together, thus aiding us to uphold rights, give entitlements and insist on obligations, whether at home, workplaces or on the roads.
It is my suggestion that this is the surest way to weave harmony and coherence into the diversities of our nation.
In Isaiah 59:14-15, the prophet lamented: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off, for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
(15) So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice”.
The Judiciary agrees with the Church that Ghana needs the grace, mercy and blessing of God.
If that is so, then as a nation, we must work towards giving justice to all manner of persons, rich or poor, young and old, and do so without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
So may God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong, as we seek and find a moral vision for national development.
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ADDRESS BY HL JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE DISTRICT COURT, KRABOA COALTAR, THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2023 My Lords, Judges and Magistrates, MP Nananom, District Chief Executive, Ayensuano District Assembly, Hon.
Josephine Inkoom District Coordinating Director – Mr.
Siibu Imoro Braimah Members of the Bar, Distinguished Invited Guests, The Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning, I join you today to mark this important occasion in the history of Kraboa Coaltar with a sense of deep pleasure and great appreciation.
Let me express my gratitude to the distinguished array of honorable citizens who have gathered to mark the occasion with the Judiciary and the Judicial Service of Ghana.
I am very grateful to all the institutions and citizens who have contributed in various ways to make today possible.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, law offers many tools, assets and promises to any society.
The first tool and asset law brings to society is the quality of order, because law serves to provide direction for everybody and every action.
Thus if a law is set and everyone under its authority obeys it, communities made up of different people with different desires and inclinations can through that obedience, organize themselves in orderly fashion, and enjoy the beauty of harmony and achievement, as we are experiencing today.
This is one of the major reasons why every country needs to make the law central to its development agenda.
After order, the next chief promise of law is justice.
Justice is the quality of satisfaction that people must have, when they are given what they deserve in accordance with what the law relating to their action or transaction has directed.
Since as we all know, every human being is unique, justice is not at all easy to achieve.
The 10 th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations is ‘reduced inequalities’ and the 16 th Sustainable Development Goal is peace and justice through strong institutions.
These goals cannot be achieved without access to justice.
As such, justice is a goal that we must strive for, and work for.
In order to ensure that justice is assured for all citizens, the 1992 Constitution has placed the prerogative for making law in the hands of the people themselves and their representatives.
Under article 11, the 1992 Constitution directs that the laws of Ghana comprise the Constitution first, the laws passed by parliament, and then the common law that Ghana accedes to, including the customary law and practices of all the tribes and peoples of Ghana.
After law has been created by the people themselves to give the nation order, the Constitution has directed that the Judiciary should carry the obligation of administering the law by interpreting it to citizens and applying it whenever there are any differences and conflicts.
To explain what I have said further, let me quote from article 125 (1) of the 1992 Constitution .
It reads: 125(1) Justice emanates from the people of Ghana, and it is administered by the Judiciary in the name of the Republic which shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution’ Distinguished invited guests, it is this constitutional mandate of administering justice in accordance with law, with independence from any external influence apart from law, and with integrity, that the Judiciary, as the third arm of Government, discharges with the resources made available to us.
As we do our work, we carry the heavy appreciation that the very survival of our society depends on the quality of the system of justice that we administer within the community.
Because as Pope John Paul 11 is famously quoted as saying ‘ if you want peace, work for justice ’.
In doing this work, we are mindful of the fact that for any system of justice to be effective, it must be accessible to all citizens regardless of rank or social standing.
It must also be physically within reach of those who need it and free of doubts about its independence and integrity.
Indeed, if anyone looks closely, they will see that the Judicial Service of Ghana has been working hard to fulfill all three of these conditions over the years.
Apart from providing physical courts, expanding and refining the rules of procedure with which we work, the Judicial Service is also working hard at instilling in our officers, higher standards of ethical conduct.
Through training and Codes of Conduct, we are demanding accountable service, independence from conflict of interest and integrity from all our officers around the country.
As Ghana has grown as a society, regulations have been increasingly crafted to assist the less well off in our society to access justice through less complex rules of court, automation of court services and provision of ADR facilities.
We are also facilitating greater access to justice for the most vulnerable, including the physically challenged and those already incarcerated.
Today, we are marking another way in which the frontiers of justice in our country are being expanded with the inauguration of the District Court, Kraboa Coaltar.
This project is part of the nationwide construction of one hundred Courthouses program embarked on by Government in 2020 to improve judicial infrastructure.
Through this Court, we will be able to ensure that fewer people contemplate the use of extra-judicial avenues of seeking redress and resolving disputes.
Because when the rule of law is established in any society, it delivers another promise, apart from order and justice as already discussed.
This is the promise of prosperity and development.
People are assured of safety of their person and assets, they are assured of the stability of the environment in which they live.
When you add assurance of a justice delivery mechanism to bring justice and fairness, people find it easy to invest in the community and work hard for prosperity.
The rule and protection of law therefore serves as the most positive building rungs for the steady development of any society.
It is therefore my hope that the presence of this court is able to bring more and more people to settle and do business in this beautiful community.
But all that has been said will depend, in large measure, on the people who come to work here.
I therefore urge the staff of the Judicial Service of Ghana, whose work will give meaning to the construction of this court, to see themselves as ambassadors of the Service and of the very concept of justice itself.
Most importantly, you must understand that the Judicial Service is a public service and we are servants of the public.
Let no one feel discouraged or reluctant to use the justice delivery institutions.
We must ensure that we are not only fair and just, but are seen by all to be so, so that the people who patronize court services will feel confident in seeking redress from this building and so increase the peace and stability of the country.
That is the only way in which we can ensure that the justice system operated from this building will achieve the purpose for which the Constitution arranged it.
I also wish to assert that we will do all we can to ensure that the building is well maintained and not allowed to fall into premature ruin and disrepair.
Years to come, I believe that we will gather again to inaugurate a much larger edifice as Kraboa Coaltar becomes more and more prosperous.
Irene Naa Torshie Addo Lartey, whose drive, enthusiasm and leadership have made it possible for us to be here today.
I also wish to thank the leaders of Kraboa Coaltar for making land available for this project.
The people of Kraboa Coaltar thank you.
REMARKS BY THE HON.
LADY CHIEF JUSTICE, JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, AT A SEND-OFF DINNER HELD IN HONOUR OF 15 RETIRED JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND HIGH COURT, ON THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 AT THE ALISA HOTEL, RIDGE- ACCRA My Lords Justices of the Supreme Court My Lord Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature The Judicial Secretary The National President of the Ghana Bar Association Members of the Judicial Council Members of the General Legal Council Our Celebrants – 5 Retired Justices of the Court of Appeal and 10 Justices of the High Court Family and Friends of our Celebrants Directors and Staff of the Judicial Service Distinguished Invited Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Good evening, Thank you all for joining us today to honour 15 Justices of the Court of Appeal and the High Court who have retired from the family of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share a few words on this special occasion.
In 2009, President of the United States of America, Barack Obama addressed a Special Session of our National Legislature and famously urged us to build strong institutions rather than strong men.
This piece of advice, meant for all of Africa, was obviously timely and well-intentioned.
However, I believe that the commentary around it ignored the obvious corollary, that, strong institutions have to be built by strong characters.