Judges welcome 100% IGF retention by Judicial Service
By DL News
Published
2 min read
President of the Association, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu expressed appreciation to government and also acknowledged the role of the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, in securing the approval.
The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana has welcomed the government’s decision to allow the Judicial Service to retain all of its Internally Generated Funds, describing the move as an important step towards improving justice delivery.
Until now, the Judicial Service retained only 30 percent of its IGF, while the remaining 70 percent was paid to government. Under the new arrangement, the Service will keep 100 percent of the revenue it generates.
President of the Association, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, announced the development at the opening of the AMJG’s 45th Annual Conference in Accra.
She expressed appreciation to the government and also acknowledged the role of the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, in securing the approval.
According to Justice Obeng Owusu, the additional financial resources should help strengthen the Judiciary’s ability to provide the infrastructure, logistics and other support needed by judges and magistrates to perform their constitutional duties effectively.
She, however, stressed that funding alone would not resolve all the challenges facing judicial officers.
The two-day conference, being held under the theme, “Balance Beyond the Bench: Harmonising Duty, Justice and Life,” is also focusing attention on the personal welfare and working conditions of judges and magistrates.
Justice Obeng Owusu said judicial officers should not be viewed only through the work they perform in court, noting that they also have families and personal responsibilities outside the courtroom.
She raised concern about what she described as a growing trend of attacks against judges on social media, particularly after controversial decisions.
While recognising the right of the public to criticise judicial decisions, she said personal attacks, threats and attempts to target the families of judges could undermine public confidence in the justice system and weaken judicial independence.
She also praised the Chief Justice for his response following the recent attack on the Kwame Danso District Court, saying the intervention demonstrated a commitment to the safety of judicial officers and court staff.
The AMJG President further called for better accommodation, improved logistics, adequate staffing, timely payment of allowances and stronger security for judges and magistrates.
