<<Print>>

The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has described the late President John Evans Atta Mills as a true democrat who respected the independence of the Judiciary and worked to promote it. She said, for instance, that the late President was instrumental in impressing on the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to release money for the $50-million court complex project in Accra for the Judicial Council and had cut the sod for the start of the project. In recognition of that, she said, the Judicial Council had decided to name the magnificent court complex after the late President. The Chief Justice said this when she led a delegation, comprising justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Judicial Council and members of the General Legal Council, to call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Castle, Osu, Monday. The delegation was at the Castle to express its condolence to President Mahama, government officials and members of the late President�s family. It also congratulated President Mahama on his elevation to the office of President. Justice Wood said the late President Mills had �good working relations� with the Judiciary and supported it. She said when he took over power, the late President told her and members of the Judiciary that he knew the problem they faced adding that true to his word, the late President assisted the Judiciary to undertake its biggest project ever � the court complex. The Chief Justice said during the several meetings that the Judiciary had with President Mills, he admonished the judges to administer justice without fear or favour and in a way that people would not see the Judiciary to be turning the scales of justice. �He did not hide his view on the independence of the Judiciary and respect for the rule of law,� she said. She said among members of the Judiciary were students of the late President who attested to his integrity as a lecturer in Law, especially in the area of taxation, saying, �We have truly lost a democrat.� Justice Wood expressed the belief that President Mahama had learnt from President Mills and asked him to carry on with what the late President had started, so that Ghana�s Judiciary would continue to enjoy the same confidence. She promised that the Judiciary would continue to administer justice to Ghanaians and expressed the willingness of the Judiciary to support the government to offer a befitting funeral and burial to the late President. Responding, President Mahama said the President had great respect and interest in the welfare of the legal profession. He promised to support the Judiciary with the needed facilities to operate more efficiently and with optimum speed. He said the Judiciary was a critical part arm of government, since it became the neutral arbiter in any disagreement between the Executive and the Legislature. He urged the Judiciary to take criticisms against it as an occupational hazard and continue to work to administer justice to all Ghanaians. President Mahama promised to continue with the work, beliefs and vision of the late President Mills.