Staff of the Judicial Service have been urged to protect the image of the service through their conduct and duties to the public.
“When people come to you, you must be professional, you must act with decorum and integrity as per your schedule and as according to law,” the acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has said.
He further advised them against acts of misconduct which could bring the image of the judiciary into disrepute, stressing “if any person is found not to be following due process, appropriate sanctions will be applied”.
This was contained in the Chief Justice’s speech delivered on his behalf by Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, a Justice of the Supreme Court, at this year’s staff durbar of the service in Wa, Upper West Region.
Present was the acting Judicial Secretary, Dr Cyracus Badinye Bapuuroh.
Conditions of service
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie announced that a Constitutional Instrument (CI) that would contain comprehensive conditions of service for judiciary service staff pursuant to Article 158 (2) of the 1992 Constitution would be introduced.
“So, I am happy to inform you that the Attorney-General has laid the regulations before Parliament, and it is expected that the same will become law after 21 days.
“We, therefore, expect that with the new CI in force, your conditions of service will improve significantly,” he said.
The acting Chief Justice, therefore, entreated the staff to exercise patience with demands for salary adjustment.
Article 158 (2) mandates that the Judicial Council make regulations through a CI after consulting the Public Services Commission, and upon the President’s approval.
The regulations prescribe the terms and conditions for officers and employees of the courts, excluding those whose appointments are specified elsewhere in the Constitution.
He, however, said that the new CI would not only address salaries, but also efficient performance of duties, as well as disciplinary measures aimed at ensuring compliance with the highest ethical standards required of the service.
Assurance
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie assured the staff of his commitment to champion their welfare to enable them to give of their best.
He commended the staff associations of the service for their advocacy for improved conditions of service for members.
Appreciation
The Upper West Regional Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Alhaji Yussif Assibey, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the association for bringing the annual durbar to the region, which he said afforded an opportunity to staff across the country to interact and share ideas on the way forward.
He, however, appealed to the government to help complete work on the court complex in Wa.
