By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, March 5, GNA – Justice Tanko Amadu, a Justice of the Supreme Court, says the quality of justice and the depth of decisions delivered in Ghana’s courts shape public perception of the country’s constitutional system.
“The quality of justice and the depth of the decisions delivered in our courts shape public perception of the entire constitutional system,” he said.
“Each ruling, each procedural decision and each act of judicial conduct contributes either to strengthening or eroding public confidence.”
Justice Amadu, also the Director of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), said this at the opening of a two-day training on the Rule of Law and Independence of the Judiciary in Accra on Wednesday.
The training brought together magistrates and judges to examine the role of the judiciary in safeguarding constitutional order and to analyse guarantees of judicial independence at both institutional and individual levels.
He said independence and integrity were not abstract concepts but realities expressed daily in courtrooms across the country, with judges and magistrates serving as key advocates.
He, therefore, urged participants to see the training not only as a platform for technical insights but also as an opportunity for renewed inspiration.
“May it reinforce our collective commitment to uphold the Constitution, protect rights without discrimination and ensure that the scales of the justice system remain balanced,” Justice Amadu said.
In Ghana, the 1992 Constitution firmly established the rule of law as a foundational principle through its preamble.
In furtherance of that constitutional imperative, Ghana’s courts had, over the years, developed “a rich body of jurisprudence affirming the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution,” he said.
“In this regard, the legitimacy of our democratic order depends significantly on the judiciary’s ability to discharge this mandate independently, competently and with integrity.
“Judicial independence, therefore, is not a mere privilege granted to judges. Rather, it is a constitutional guarantee owed to the people.”
Justice Amadu said judicial independence also protected litigants, minorities and even the state itself by ensuring that judicial decisions were guided solely by law and conscience, free from external pressure, political interference or improper influence.
He added that international instruments also reinforced judicial independence through various guiding principles.
However, judicial independence must always be accompanied by accountability, he noted.
“Public trust in the judiciary depends not only on freedom from interference but also on transparent and fair systems of recruitment, performance evaluation, discipline and continuing education.”
He described balancing independence with accountability as one of the most delicate and complex tasks in modern constitutional governance.
Justice Amadu observed that across jurisdictions, courts faced similar challenges such as increasing caseloads, growing public scrutiny and rising demands for efficiency.
By examining how other systems responded to those challenges, Ghana could gain insights to strengthen its own institutional frameworks without compromising its constitutional identity, Justice Amadu said.
He noted that a confident judiciary was one that was willing to examine its processes, refine its standards and engage openly with global best practices.
Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, a Justice of the Supreme Court and Deputy Director of the JTI, said the rule of law and judicial independence were the bedrock of democracy.
It was, therefore, important for judges to undergo continuous education to remain relevant in an increasingly interconnected world, he said.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo indicated that the training would enable judges and magistrates to learn from one another and explore emerging dynamics in the administration of justice.
Ms Martina Crisanti, Project Officer for the Rule of Law and Judicial Cooperation in Africa at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, said the training would provide judges and magistrates the opportunity to clarify the concept and constitutional foundation of the rule of law.
Ms Laura Ranalli, Ambassador of Italy to Ghana, said training and capacity building were key strategies adopted by her country in promoting skills development.
The two-day programme is an initiative spearheaded by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa, Italy), in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of Ghana, the Judicial Training Institute, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe