The Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has called on the leadership of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to prioritize ethical values in the work culture of the Judicial Service staff.
She believes that instilling these values will enhance the public’s confidence in the judicial arm of government as an institution.
At the launch of the 50th anniversary of JUSAG in Accra last Thursday, the Chief Justice emphasized the importance of competence, diligence, and integrity as distinguishing character traits for the Judicial Service and judiciary. She urged JUSAG to implement operational programs to instill these ethical values in the work culture of the Judicial Service staff.
Describing JUSAG as champions in the justice delivery chain, the Chief Justice stressed the significance of compliance with every code of conduct. She encouraged JUSAG to leverage symposia, workshops, learning groups, and gaming competitions to achieve this objective.
The anniversary, themed “50 years of championing judicial excellence; embracing integrity, digitalization, and upholding judicial independence and staff welfare,” was chaired by Justice of the Supreme Court, Gabriel Pwamang. The celebration brought together workers of the Judicial Service, Justices of the superior courts, organized labor, among other dignitaries.
As part of the anniversary celebration, JUSAG has lined up various activities including lectures, media engagement, sports, health walks, among others, in different regions. The Chief Justice led the unveiling of the anniversary logo and cloth.
Pledging her support for JUSAG, Chief Justice Torkornoo urged the leadership of the service to raise awareness among staff to uphold the standards of their work. She also mentioned that the Quality Assurance Unit of the service is evaluating data from the courts to rationalize caseloads and ensure improved welfare.
The President of JUSAG, Samuel Afotey Otu, highlighted the association’s achievements in pursuing welfare schemes and representing the voice and interest of members in the service and the labor movement of Ghana. He called on members to embrace integrity and digitalization as the pillars of the modern-day justice system and uphold judicial independence and staff welfare.
The Trades Union Congress Secretary General, Dr. Yaw Baah, commended JUSAG and the judiciary for protecting the rights of workers over the years, emphasizing the role of the Labour Court in resolving disputes.
Overall, the call for ethical values and the celebration of JUSAG’s 50th anniversary illustrate the commitment to upholding excellence, integrity, and welfare in the Judicial Service of Ghana.
