The President's nominee to the Supreme Court, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, has expressed his support for the establishment of Public Tribunals.According to him this is the only way to expedite action towards reducing the work load on the normal courts.The tribunals, the nominee indicated will be chaired by high court judges assisted by two ordinary persons who will deal with criminal cases at the lower level while the normal courts take charge of civil cases.Justice Dzamefe said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Vetting Committee on Monday as one of the six Appeals Court Justices nominated to serve on the Supreme Court.He explained that justice emanated from the people and they were more relaxed when they appear before the tribunals."Let's give them that opportunity as prescribed by the Constitution, saying it must be done so it shall be done," he said.The nominee also called for the provision of technological gadgets in areas of cyber security and artificial intelligence to transcribe voice to word in order to speed up the trial of cases instead of wasting time to write on paper while some cases could be done virtually.He stated that adding more Judges to the Supreme Court would improve justice delivery, saying that adding seven more Justices to the 13 at the bench would expedite action on cases but must come with a justification not merely to pack the courts.He said Judges must always deal with cases as prescribed by Law, and not meddle in politics by restricting themselves with the comments they pass during judgement in order not to be seen as taking sides.Justice Dzamefe answering a question on time table on adjudication of cases noted that the time had come to set time limits on criminal and civil cases.He said as to whether the Speaker should be sworn in the absence of the President and Vice President he cannot make any explicit comment but says whatever the Constitution prescribed must be adhered to adding that the "Law is the Law."He said there must be a Lacuna explaining that if the President is away the Vice, the Speaker or the Chief Justice can act in order to fill the vacuum adding that "The state must run but you have to know the kinds of decisions to take".Justice Dzamefe said he would not recommend suppressing investigative journalism but stressed that whatever is been reported must be factual with facts cross-checked. BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA AKPALU
SC nominee justifies establishment of public tribunals - Ghanaian Times
Published:
6 hours ago
Source:
Ghanaian Times