Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has advised the board members and managers of the newly introduced Judicial Service Staff Cooperative Fund (JUSCOFund) to invest wisely in viable projects to make the fund successful.
The Chief Justice also urged the fund managers to work with integrity and account to the people they are going to serve.
Justice Anin Yeboah who made this call while launching the historic financial entity for the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) said the managers should manage the fund like they will manage their own pocket money.
“In the name of accountability, the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) Executives must not dare to fail to manage the fund with integrity while upholding the laws of the cooperative at all times,” he said.
*Nothing more distractive than money*
The Chief Justice also called for an efficient management of the contributions by investing in assets that would reap maximum gains while retaining a portion of inflows to meet the need of members.
He noted that the fund would bring respite to staff whenever they needed financial assistance.
“There is nothing more distractive in association’s or organization’s or a fund of this nature when people do not owned themselves up to account to the beneficiaries of the fund.
“My passionate plea to you is that you are taking care of people’s money. Just as you take good care of your own money please this is more serious because it doesn’t belonged to you. So if you are a member of the board you have certainly taken an oath and I mean come out with the pledge to administer the fund in such a way that it would be like a Ceaser’s wife so there should not be any room for suspicion that the fund has not been managed properly.”
*Education*
Justice Anin Yeboah said one of the surest ways of meeting the needs of members should be by winning their confidence, he said, and urged the leadership to treat members fairly.
He said the cooperatives landscape had evolved, over the years, with the coming into force the Cooperative Act NLCD 252.
The JUSCOFund was an innovative feat to create and distribute wealth to all members and not to only selected few.
He was elated that the lending rate for members was 15 per cent, and said the fund would bring great relief to those who had to borrow from various financial institutions at a higher rate.
He observed that labour unions were settling with cooperatives as a means to provide financial support to members.
The Chief Juice tasked the Board of the fund to educate members on the bye-laws to enable them to know their obligations, rights, and responsibilities.
He further entreated the leadership to ensure they did not lord their position over members, adding: “There should not be room for suspicion in the management of the fund.”
*Don’t lord yourself over your colleagues*
A Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Senyo Dzamefe also cautioned the managers of the fund and urged them to show transparency in their dealings.
He advised them against discrimination and also lording themselves over their colleagues for favours before they are granted financial.
“I am very happy to see the launch of this fund. (It is) very innovative. I’m happy about that but then, I heard a lot of promises too. Be careful with promises. And this is money matter so like My Lord Chief Justice said accountability and transparency (is very key). Money is a temptation,” he cautioned.
He added “The managers of the fund like my sister (Her Honour Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur) said integrity is the word. The playing field must be level don’t say because A is my friend or B is my friend you give them priority no. If your friends are not qualified they don’t qualify.
“Treat all people or members with equal measure. Don’t say this man is a senior member of staff. This man is a junior so you will serve the senior first no.
“Like I said earlier board members don’t take an opportunity to lord yourselves over your colleagues thinking you get small small favours from your colleagues before you give them money,” Justice Dzamefe urged.
*Afotey’s baby*
Mr Samuel Afotey Otu, the President, Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana, said the Fund formed part of his campaign promise to the members to ensure their financial independence, which was the goal of every Ghanaian.
He, therefore, appealed to Members of the Bench to join, as the fund was not discriminatory.
“Having worked in this noble service for decades, I know for a fact that most staff always fall on some cutthroat financial institutions whenever they are in dire need of financial help,” the President of JUSAG observed.
“After critically observing the helplessness of my people, I carved a policy to create financial independence for them through the introduction of the JUSCOFund for which we are all here today (Tuesday).
“Financial independence is what every Ghanaian worker desires. However, most of our members are highly indebted to banks and many other financial institutions. At the end of the month, almost all their earnings go back to these financial institutions making it impossible to make ends meet and I feel their pain.
“As definitively captured in my manifesto to introduce the JUSAG Cooperative Society, I am here today to honour that promise to my people. The JUSCOFund is here to provide credit and financial services to our members and all staff of the service at the most competitive prices.
“I will love to add that JUSCOFund is non-discriminatory. Is voluntary and open to all staff of the service; from the cleaners, watchmen, artisans to high court registrars, chief registrars and our able directors. The Judges and Magistrates are equally qualified to join the JUSCOFund,” he noted.
*What else was there?*
Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur, a Circuit Court Judge, who played an important role in the laws governing the cooperative, lauded JUSAG Executives for choosing a cooperative, which would afford members with low salaries to invest in the fund.
Mr Kwabena Yeboah Apreku, the Director of Cooperatives, presented a certificate to the Chief Justice to mark the commencement of the Fund.
The Secretary of JUSAG, brother Abdulai Yakubu, took the gathering through the what the JUSCOFind represents, eligibility criteria and the maturity period of six months after signing on with the minimum contribution pegged at GHc50.
The event was also graced by the National president of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
