Accra, April 21, GNA – The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) on Tuesday called for enhanced capacity building for its members to improve service delivery within the justice system.
It said Ghana must invest in personnel who keep the justice system running daily by equipping them to become world-class service providers.
The Association also appealed for improved conditions of service for both its members and judges.
Mr Samuel Afotey Otu, President of JUSAG, made the call in Accra at the launch of the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Ghana, themed: “Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Defining the Future.”
He noted that a well-supported workforce was essential to the integrity and sustainability of Ghana’s justice system.
Providing historical context, Mr Afotey said the apex court was established in 1876 under the Supreme Court Ordinance of the Gold Coast, with Sir David Patrick Chambers as the first Chief Justice.
He said Ghana had since had 28 Chief Justices, with Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie serving as the current head of the judiciary since November 17, 2025.
Mr Afotey highlighted notable figures in the judiciary, including Sir Arku Korsah, the first Ghanaian Chief Justice; Justice Philip Archer, who rose from court clerk to Chief Justice; and Justice Theodora Georgina Wood, the first female Chief Justice in both Ghana and Africa.
He commended Justice Baffoe-Bonnie and the justices of the apex court for strengthening judicial independence, improving access to justice, and promoting the use of technology in court administration.
In a solidarity message, Mrs Afua Ghartey, President of the Ghana Bar Association, said the Bar was the “mother of the Bench,” noting that legal practice in Ghana began in 1864.
She said the anniversary was also significant for the Bar as it marked the emergence of formally trained lawyers in the country.
Mrs Ghartey urged stakeholders in the justice delivery system to remain humble, uphold their responsibilities, and defend the rule of law.
The event was attended by current and former Chief Justices, judges, lawyers, the Deputy Chief of Staff, traditional rulers, and academics.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe