President Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Dr. Bawumia with Justice Anin-Yeboah (middle), Chief Justice, after the swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday swore in Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah as the new Chief Justice (CJ), charging him to continue with the modernisation process of the Judiciary.
He observed that the presence of almost all the Justices of the Supreme Court at the vetting of the CJ was an honourable gesture.
Continuing with his speech, the President said “I am hopeful that this same level of support will be forth coming as he assumes the mantle of the Head of the Judiciary.”
To his colleagues on the bench and members of the bar, the President solicited their continued solidarity and co-operation with the new CJ to promote the rule of law, saying “that will be in line with the finest traditions of the bench and the bar and will help enhance the welfare of our people.”
On his expectations of the new CJ as he begins his new role as head of the country’s Judiciary, President Akufo-Addo said “I expect decency, discipline, fairness, hard work, deep-seated respect for the rule of law and the continuing modernization of judicial activities to be the hallmarks of his era as Chief Justice.”
He said it was extremely important that Ghana has a Judiciary that commands the respect of its people and, therefore, urged the CJ to ensure that during his term in office, the Judicial Service can confidently be said to live up to this billing.
President Akufo-Addo assured the CJ that the most pressing needs of the Judiciary such as their infrastructural challenges which directly affect the delivery of justice in Ghana would be given the needed attention they deserve from government.
On his part, Justice Anin-Yeboah thanked the President, the Council of State and Parliament for the various constitutional roles they played leading to his appointment as CJ.
He further indicated that there were some urgent issues that came up during his vetting by Parliament which would be given the attention they deserve in order to find lasting solutions to them.
“During my vetting by Parliament, it was evident that the following issues concerning the Judiciary were of concern to the representative of the people of Ghana: the integrity of the Judiciary and perception of corruption, delays in the justice delivery system, poor infrastructure of the courts and residences of judicial officers, inadequate resources for the running of the Judiciary and justice delivery system of Ghana,” he pointed out.
“I want to assure the people of Ghana that I will continue to jealously guard the integrity of the Judiciary as my predecessors in office have done. I will take all necessary steps to ensure that during my term in office, solutions are found to these issues of concern,” he added.
Procedures
The procedures preceding the swearing-in ceremony included the oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy during a colourful ceremony at the Jubilee House (Presidency) in Accra observed by a restricted group of dignitaries.
It followed the approval of Parliament of his nomination after going through a rigorous vetting process by the Appointments Committee.
Present at the ceremony were all three former Presidents, Jerry Rawlings, Kufuor and Mahama, and Justices of the Supreme Court.
Also present were former first Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Ministers of State, Members of the Judicial Council and General Legal Council, Members of the Council of State, Service Chiefs of the Republic, Members of the Clergy, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, leadership and Members of the Ghana Bar Association.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent