Tamale (N/R) Sept. 3, The staff of the Judicial Service have been urged to be honest and creditable in the execution of their duties. ”You should endeavour to eschew all forms of misdeeds which tend to tarnish the reputation of the judicial service,” the National President o f the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Mr. Stephen Kwesi Amissah- Aggrey, said in Tamale yesterday. Speaking at the annual Northern Regional JUSAG week celebrations, Mr Amissah-Aggrey said the prime objective of the judiciary in administering justice without fear or favour, can only be achieved in a politically stable environment. To this effect, he called on the executive, legislature and the public to establish goodwill and co-operation with the judiciary to facilitate a st able environment for resolution of disputes. Mr. Amissah-Aggrey appealed to the government to renovate old court houses and provide logistics such as typewriters, computers, recording machines in every region to enable the staff to work more efficiently. Mr E.C.A. Asoaya, regional chairman of the association, called for cordiality between JUSAG, the police and prison services since they all h ave a common goal of promoting justice in the country. He deplored the frequent adjournment of court cases and called for a transparent approach to court proceedings. The chairman of the Northern Region tribunals, Mr. Justice K.A. Pobih, called on parliament to amend section 97 of the criminal code on rape to enable any court of justice other than the high court to hear and convict rape offenders. Mr. Pobih explained that rape, being a first degree felony, can only be heard and prosecuted by a high court under the criminal code.
