<<Print>>

Former Chief Justice Georgina Wood has entreated the Judicial Service to uphold the values of integrity and fairness in the administration of justice and shun acts or triggers of corruption.

She said judicial integrity and related concepts of fairness and impartiality were the most critical values all judges must aspire to, for a trustworthy judiciary capable of attracting investments for nation-building.

Justice Wood was speaking on the topic: “Integrity, Fairness and Impartiality” among the public and public offices, especially the Judiciary at the 2022 Bible Week Symposium organized by The Bible Society of Ghana.

She said when citizens were satisfied with and had respect for the work of the court, it had a positive impact on and covered the shortcomings of the other arms of government.

Referring to Article 19 of the 1992 constitution, she said it guaranteed the right to fair hearing and trial and charged the Judiciary to deplore impartiality.

“The person with integrity does not preach one thing and do the opposite and is trustworthy and dependable in both speech and conduct. Fairness implies non-discrimination, quality and reasonableness in all circumstances,” she added.

Justice Wood also condemned public sector corruption, which posed a great threat to democracy and national development and urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, all law enforcement agencies and Parliament to work to ensure there were appropriate sanctions against lawbreakers.

She admonished the public to exhibit values for integrity and honesty through the payment of taxes, asking: “Do we pay our taxes as commanded by the Lord or we have turned ourselves into tax evaders and clever avoiders?”

“Our media should think about ethical values of integrity and the irreversible damage they do to people through publications. To our local markets, do you adjust scales in your stores in order to outsmart or cheat customers?” she asked.