9 July 2009
press release
The Ghanaian Times on Monday, this week, carried a story about a case pending before the Akim Swedru court for the past nine years. According to the story, the case had been adjourned as many as 78 times. The reason for this undue delay was that the Prosecutor handling the case had gone on retirement, whilst the judge who started hearing the case had also gone on transfer.
Following the publication of the story, the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Wood, quickly intervened and ordered that the judge who was handling the case, but had now been promoted and transferred to Wa, should be brought back to hear and determine the case. She has also directed that the case be heard on daily basis and judgment delivered on the 31 st of this month.
The Chronicle wishes to commend the CJ for the expeditious manner she reacts to newspaper publications concerning her outfit. Indeed, last year, The Chronicle wrote an editorial on a jail term that was slapped on an over 70 year old man for stealing a bunch of plantain. Looking at the advanced age of the convict and the nature of crime he committed, we thought the punishment was too harsh. Immediately after our publication the CJ directed a Supreme Court judge to investigate the case. The old man was later cautioned and released from jail.
The Chronicle thinks if all public office holders should behave the way the CJ does, the injustices in our society would be eliminated. There are hundreds of Ghanaians who are suffering from one form of injustice or the other, but because they do not have the men who would speak for them, they are always left to their fate.
If the Times had not reported this particular case under review, those involved would have found themselves in a web of injustice.
It is our hope that other public office holders would emulate this shining example of the lady CJ to ensure fairness.
The media always represents the voice of the voiceless, therefore, if the rights of individuals are being trampled upon and it is brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities, they must treat such cases with dispatch, even though no official complaint would have been made to them.
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