The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has lauded government for approving the retention of 100 percent of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) by the Judicial Service, describing it as a major boost for justice delivery in the country.
Previously, the Judicial Service retained only 30 percent of its IGF, with the remaining 70 percent going to government.
The new approval represents a 70 percent increase, allowing the Service to now retain all of its internally generated revenue.
The President of the Association, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, who disclosed this at the opening of the 45th Annual Conference of the AMJG in Accra, expressed gratitude to the government for the decision.
“The Association has taken note that the government has approved 100 percent of the internally generated funds to be given to the Judicial Service.
“We are grateful to the government for this positive decision, and in particular, His Lordship the Chief Justice, whose intervention contributed to making this possible,” she said.
Justice Obeng Owusu, who is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal, said the move will enhance resource allocation to the Judiciary and enable judges and magistrates to discharge their constitutional mandate more effectively.
She, however, noted that other areas requiring attention must also be addressed to enable true balance in the lives of judicial officers.
The two-day conference is on the theme – ‘Balance Beyond the Bench: Harmonising Duty, Justice and Life.’
According to Justice Obeng Owusu, the theme is a reminder that judges are not just adjudicators, but human beings with families and lives beyond the bench.
Social media attacks on judges
She bemoaned the increasing trend of social media attacks on judges, where decisions made in the course of duty are quickly circulated, with the integrity of judges questioned and their families dragged into public discourse.
She said while constructive criticism is legitimate in a democracy, “personal and physical attacks and attempts to vilify magistrates and judges for performing their duties undermine public confidence in the justice system and threaten judicial independence.”
In that regard, she commended the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, for his prompt intervention following the recent attack on the Kwame Danso District Court.
“His swift response to this disturbing incident demonstrated a firm commitment to the protection of the Judiciary and the safety of judicial officers and staff,” she stated.
Justice Obeng Owusu called for improved working conditions, adequate logistical support, decent accommodation, timely payment of allowances, sufficient staffing, and effective protection for judges, as well as the creation of structures for judicial wellness.
She said true balance beyond the bench will remain impossible if judges and magistrates are poorly supported, and urged all stakeholders to create the enabling environment for effective justice delivery.
