Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonno (middle) in a pose with a Group of Eminent Persons from the Christian Council of Ghana
The Judiciary has expressed its readiness to promptly deal with all election-related matters that are brought to the court before, during and after the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
A statement issued by the Judicial Service indicated that this will be done under the strict guidance of the provisions made in the new Manual on Election Adjudication; the 5th edition.
At a dialogue session with a group of Eminent Persons from the Christian Council of Ghana in Accra, Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, together with members of the Elections Management Committee of the Judiciary assured Ghanaians of the Courts’ readiness to swiftly deal with all election-related cases in accordance with law, and as per the guidelines provided in the new Manual on Election Adjudication.
The Chairman of the Elections Management Committee of the Judiciary, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, of the Supreme Court highlighted key activities undertaken since the Chief Justice constituted the Committee in the 2023/2024 Legal Year, to oversee the Judiciary’s preparations towards the 2024 elections.
He said the committee also hosted and participated in stakeholder engagements aimed at enhancing election adjudication, with specific reference to providing timelines for parliamentary election disputes.
The committee again conducted nationwide training to build capacity of Magistrates and High Court Judges who according to Regulation 21 (1) of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I.91), are required to act as District Registration Review Officers (DRROs) and Chief Registration Review Officers (CRROs) during the limited registration and exhibition of the voters register.
The Committee will soon launch the Manual, conduct intensive training for Superior Court Judges, sensitize the public and continue to engage stakeholders.
Meeting Purpose
The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) led by its Co-Chair, Most Rev. Dr. Paul K. Boafo; sought audience with the Chief Justice to acquaint themselves with the Judiciary’s preparedness towards election 2024.
According to the leader of the delegation, the Christian Council of Ghana constituted the Eminent Persons Group (EPG); made up of “religious leaders from various faiths across Ghana, who have come together to promote peace, unity and stability through high level engagements before, during and after elections 2024”.
The Group described the session with the leadership of the Judiciary and its team members as ‘very informative and fruitful,’ and promised to carry the message and concerns of the Judiciary across, as it engages all others who have a major stake in the forthcoming national elections.
The Chief Justice entreated all to have full confidence in the Judiciary with the assurance, that “the Judiciary has its structures in place.”
She added, that “Ghana’s Judiciary is a very prepared one, independent, and would never do anything to derail the peace of the country”.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak