President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary, stressing that judicial autonomy is a constitutional guarantee and not a favour from the Executive.
The President’s position was conveyed by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, at the opening of the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), at the University for Development Studies in Tamale.
The five-day conference, which began on August 24, 2026 and ends on August 29, 2026 is being held on the theme: “Championing Staff Welfare and Technology: Anchors of Quality Justice.”
Mr Debrah said the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary had distinct constitutional responsibilities but were united by the common objective of upholding the rule of law and serving Ghanaians.
“Independence is not a favour granted by the Executive; it is a constitutional guarantee and an indispensable safeguard of our democracy,” he said.
The Chief of Staff assured the Judiciary that government would continue to work with it while respecting its autonomy and supporting efforts to improve justice delivery and access.
The Staff are the face of justice
Mr Julius Debrah commended more than 5,000 Judicial Service employees, describing them as indispensable to the administration of justice.
He noted that while public attention often focused on judges and court proceedings, registrars, clerks, bailiffs, interpreters, stenographers, ICT officers, accountants, administrators, librarians, drivers and other staff played critical roles in ensuring the courts functioned effectively.
“For many citizens, you are the first human face of the justice system and the last they meet before leaving court,” he said, stressing that their professionalism directly influenced public confidence in the justice system.
He also praised JUSAG for its development since its establishment in 1973 and its tradition of resolving labour issues through dialogue and responsible leadership.
C.I. 141 welcomed
The Chief of Staff described the Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025, C.I. 141, as a major milestone that provides greater certainty and stability for staff.
He said the regulations, developed through collaboration among government, the Judicial Council, Parliament, the Attorney-General and other stakeholders, would strengthen welfare, professional development and industrial harmony.
Mr Debrah further highlighted housing initiatives, including the Judicial City Estates Project and JUSCO Fund, as measures that could improve the welfare and family security of Judicial Service workers.
He said government’s housing initiatives would complement the President’s Green City Housing Programme and the proposed GH¢3 billion Revolving Housing Fund for public sector workers.
Chief Justice salutes “people behind justice”
The Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, also paid tribute to Judicial Service staff, saying justice begins long before a judge enters the courtroom.
“Justice does not begin when the judge enters the courtroom. It begins much earlier. It begins at the registry, when a process is received,” he said.
He cited the work of registry officers, clerks, bailiffs, administrators, accounts officers and IT personnel among others, saying their efforts often went unnoticed despite being essential to the delivery of justice.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said staff welfare must, therefore, be treated as an integral part of justice administration rather than an afterthought.
He welcomed C.I. 141 but cautioned that regulations alone could not address every aspect of employee welfare.
“Welfare has a human dimension which no regulation can entirely capture. It concerns dignity. It concerns fairness. It concerns professional development,” he said.
Digital transformation
Mr Debrah said government would continue supporting the Judiciary’s digital transformation through electronic filing, integrated case management, secure digital payments and responsible use of virtual hearings.
He stressed that technology should be used to reduce delays, improve transparency and strengthen public confidence.
He, however, cautioned that modernisation must not undermine the human values of justice.
“Technology can improve efficiency, but it cannot replace integrity,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders to work towards a justice system that is modern, accessible and trusted, with a workforce treated with dignity.
“Every improvement in our courts strengthens Ghana’s democracy. Every investment in Judicial Service staff strengthens justice. And every responsible innovation brings fairness closer to the citizen,” he said.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
