Chief Justice Calls For Stronger Management-Staff Partnership To Strengthen Justice Delivery
The Acting Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has called for a stronger partnership between management and staff of the Judicial Service of Ghana to enhance effective justice administration and boost public confidence in the courts.
He made the call on Monday while delivering the keynote address on the theme: “Trade Unionism in the Service: Partnering Management for Quality Justice Administration” at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana (SSAJUG).
Addressing delegates, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said trade unionism and management, when properly understood, should be natural partners in the shared enterprise of delivering justice.
“The Judicial Service, for its part, cannot discharge its constitutional mandate without a workforce that is motivated, fairly treated and professionally committed. The relationship between management and staff ought therefore never to be one of permanent confrontation,” he stated.
He urged delegates to use the Congress as an opportunity for constructive reflection on the mutual responsibilities of both management and staff towards the Judicial Service and the people of Ghana.
“The Ghanaian who walks into a Court does not distinguish between the Judge, the Registrar, the Clerk, or the Administrator. To that citizen, all of us together are the face of the Judiciary. Every interaction matters. Every delay matters. Every act of courtesy matters. Every lapse of professionalism matters. And every act of quiet dedication, however small and unseen, strengthens or weakens the public’s confidence in the justice system,” he added.
Also addressing the Congress, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, underscored the evolving role of trade unions in modern institutions.
He said trade unionism should move beyond its traditional role as a defender of workers against management to embrace broader responsibilities in “institutional development, productivity, ethical conduct, innovation, accountability and quality service delivery.”
For her part, the President of SSAJUG, Mrs Marilyn Suttah, commended Management of the Service for ongoing reforms aimed at improving the conditions of service of staff.
She appealed to senior staff to demonstrate leadership and exemplary conduct in the discharge of their duties, stressing the need for professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility.
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