Chief Justice urges courts to serve with compassion and professionalism

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has urged judicial officers to serve court users with courtesy, compassion and professionalism to advance the Judiciary’s vision of equal access to quality justice. 

He made the call at the maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Judicial Service Staff Co-operative Fund (JUSCOFund) held at the Law Court Complex in Accra. The Fund, established in 2023, enables staff to save, borrow and plan for long-term financial stability. 

The AGM was on the theme, “Securing the Financial Future of Judicial Workers through Financial Cooperative Models.” The event also witnessed the launch of the Judicial City Estates Project at Kordiabe in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.  

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie announced that the Judicial Service had secured Presidential approval for Constitutional Instrument (CI) 141, which had been finalised after 30 years. 

“I am pleased to note that the Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulation, 2025 – CI 141, matured into law in November 2025,” he said.  

He reminded judicial officers that the new CI introduced a code of conduct requiring high ethical standards, professionalism, accountability and efficiency. 

“As Chief Justice, I remain the Chief Servant, and our collective fidelity must be to the law and the Constitution,” he added. 

The Chief Justice said the Judicial Service had undergone significant transformation in recent years through strengthened institutional structures and enhanced staff welfare. 

“These gains are not accidental. They are the result of collaboration, mutual respect and the shared understanding that justice delivery is only as strong as the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to uphold it,” he stated. 

He described JUSCOFund as one of the boldest initiatives by staff to enhance their welfare while supporting long-term institutional stability. 

Globally, he noted, cooperative societies remained powerful tools for mobilising resources, promoting economic inclusion and driving collective prosperity. 

The Fund’s membership had grown from fewer than 50 to more than 1,200, with assets exceeding GH¢4 million and loans worth over GH¢3 million disbursed. 

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie commended the leadership of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) for introducing a USSD platform that allowed members to check balances, view mini statements, make deposits and purchase shares. 

He urged managers of the Fund to guard the trust reposed in them. 

“Transparency, accountability and continuous engagement with members must remain the hallmark of your operations. You are stewards of the collective resources of hardworking men and women,” he said, encouraging them to ensure fairness and prudent investment. 

On the Judicial City Estates Project, he said it was a “legacy initiative” that demonstrated what was possible when vision met commitment, adding that it would be remembered as a turning point in how judicial sector workers secured long-term financial stability. 

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration, said over 25,000 registered cooperatives in Ghana served more than 2.1 million people, managing a combined capital base of more than GH¢570 million. 

Through the Ghana Cooperative Credit Unions Association, she said, over one million Ghanaians had access to savings and affordable credit. 

Under the Government’s Reset Agenda, GH¢451 million had been allocated to the Women’s Development Bank to provide affordable, gender-responsive financing for women, including female judicial staff. 

She urged Fund managers to integrate gender-responsive financial products, disability-sensitive insurance packages and dedicated welfare schemes to ensure no Judicial Service staff member was left behind. 

Mr Samuel Afotey Otu, National President, JUSCOFund, said the Fund had recorded about 200 per cent profit in 2025.  

He said more than 2,000 acres of land had been acquired for the Judicial City Estates Project at Kordiabe in the Eastern Region, while work was ongoing on an Auto Fund to meet members’ transportation needs. 

Source: GNA 

The post Chief Justice urges courts to serve with compassion and professionalism appeared first on Ghana Business News.

Read Full Story