The Image Of Public Institutions Must Be Redeemed- Justice George Kingsley Koomson
Justice George Kingsley Koomson, one of the nominees from the Appeal Court being vetted by the Parliamentary Committee to the Supreme Court has disclosed that there is a need to redeem the image of public institutions as such institutions are alleged to be corrupt.
The Justice who has been at the Bar for over thirty years believed that if citizens accuse public institutions of corruption then “they the citizens or people have made such institutions to be corrupt”.
Justice Koomson in responding to a question tossed on him by the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, said, “when allegations of corruption in public institutions are minimized, it will help improve investors’ confidence in the country’
He made references to past exposés where Judges were caught taking bribes from clients and he blamed the people for setting traps for Judges.
He further punched on the fact that the judicial system operates on professionalism and will continue to operate on a code of ethics.
Separation Of Powers
Speaking on the essence of separation of powers, Justice Koomson made it clear to the vetting committee that, “the Judiciary will continue to work separately without influencing the works of parliament or the Executive organ”.
He made reference to this when Hon. Haruna Iddrisu further asked him how he will ensure that his works do not influence parliamentary decisions since Article 93 states that the parliament of Ghana has the mandate to lay down rules that are favorable to the nation.
The other Justices being vetted by the Parliamentary Committee to be promoted to the apex Court are Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu from the Justice of the Appeal Court, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu from the Justice of the Appeal Court, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu from the Justice of the High Court.
Justice George Kingsley Koomson On Galamsey Menace
The nominee to the Supreme Court in responding to a question on handling illegal mining assumed that there is the impossibility of handling illegal mining at the Supreme Court since such cases are often dealt with at the district courts, circuit courts, High Court, or the Court of Appeal. He notes that if such cases are placed in the domain of the Supreme Court he will be ready to handle them.
He urged all citizens to have an attitudinal change towards illegal mining due to the negative impact it has on lands, water bodies, plants, and human beings as well.
Vision For The Judiciary System
Justice George Kingsley Koomson wished the government can make provision for the digitalization of all departments within the judiciary system. He also requested that all judicial offices be provided with the necessary logistics to make work easier and faster for the Judges.
Justice Koomson said transfers and promotion of Judges within the Judiciary system is a normal practice. Using himself as an example, he told the vetting committee that he spent twenty years without promotion at some point in his career, something which demoralizes affected officers.
He suggested that there should be a system that spells out when judges should be promoted. He added, “there should be a system ensuring that judges working at the District Court are promoted after five years and that system must continue to the Supreme Court”.