His Lordship Justice Victor Jones Mawulom Dotse has retired from the Supreme Court bench after 40 years of judicial service. The retired Justice had served on the bench of the Supreme Court for fifteen years and six years at the Court of Appeal and High Court.
A sending off ceremony was held yesterday in Accra and was attended by Justices of the superior court, family, friends and other members of the judicial fraternity.
The occasion was marked with a valedictory judgement, which will go a long way to correct a snare that was cast on the judiciary, due to the misconduct of a Tema High Court judge and a Registrar.
Justice Dotse, in an emotional speech to mark his retirement from the service, called on the government to regulate the springing up of high rise buildings at certain locations in Accra, which poses grave security concerns.
He wondered how a skyscraper would be overlooking a residence that would house the Vice President of the land.
According to him, the situation is not different from that of the Governor of Bank of Ghana at Cantonments.
The retired Justice also appealed to the Greater Accra Regional Minister to step up his game so that the president’s aim of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa is achieved. He also called for restrictions on the use of major roads by tricycles, as well as enforcement of the traffic regulations to enhance discipline on the roads to reduce traffic emergencies.
Justice Dotse thanked Almighty God for helping him through his career journey, as many were the missiles thrown at them at the bench, but they were saved by the Creator’s mercy and grace.
And that, he said: “If you lose God, you have lost everything in your life…the missiles thrown at us spiritually, some of you will not believe.”
He was specifically grateful to his family, friends and pastors for their emotional, physical and spiritual support.
As he retires from active service, he said he will use the few months ahead of the year to rest, after which he would burn his energy on philosophy.
Thus, he will join the judicial watch, established a trust fund, engage in fundraising activities to rebuild a nursery school at Kpando and a host of many others.
He urged the public to expect his memoire by one and half years’ time.
Prior to his retirement, Justice Dotse was the acting Chief Justice after the retirement of Chief Justice Yaw Anin Yeboah.
He has also served on several boards and committees, including the Legal Service Board and Accra Academy Board.
He was also once the President of Ghana Bar Association in the Volta region and worked as state attorney with the Attorney General (A-G) Department.
Mr Godfrey Yeboah Dame, Attorney General (A-G) and Minister of Justice described the retired justice as somebody who is meticulous to his work.
“He brought to the Court not only abundant wisdom, but also a passion for the truth and an enormous capacity to listen,” the A-G added
Dame noted that due to the contributions he (Dotse) had made to justice delivery in the country, there is no doubt that posterity will look kindly back on him or cast his virtues into the shade.
The Chief Justice nominee, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Essaba Sackey Torkornoo, added that the Judiciary and the Judicial Service truly appreciate his service.
She referred to him as a champion of women and the vulnerable and a fair contender for right as well as pray that there should be more like him, particularly for helping in building the democracy and peace of the country.
There were also goodwill messages from the Judicial Service Staff Association, directors, the Bar, judges and magistrates, and General legal Council.
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