Transfer of judges not intended to truncate cases – Judicial Service

The Judicial Service has urged the public to disregard rumours suggesting that the Chief Justice is transferring judges to truncate cases at hand.

A statement issued by the Communications Directorate of the Judicial Service strongly stated that “transfers are not done or intended to truncate cases”.

The statement referred to a media publication that said “Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, who presided over the criminal trial of Alex Kwabena Safo Kantanka, was transferred just when she was due to deliver judgment”.

To clarify the situation, the Communication Directorate of the Judicial Service stated that the judge has presented the list of all outstanding judgments and rulings, and has been authorized to deliver “ALL OUTSTANDING JUDGMENTS AND RULINGS”.

“On Friday, November 29, 2024, she presented the required Case Completion Plan, for a warrant to complete cases that are close to completion. The Judicial Service of Ghana hereby reiterates that transfers are not done or intended to truncate cases.

“It is hoped that the above stated facts will afford members of the public the correct perspective on the issue of transfers in the Judiciary generally and the said Judge in particular,” the statement read.

The Judicial Service further urged the media to verify facts and provide accurate and balanced reports to the public.

Below is the full statement

MEDIA STATEMENT: TRANSFERS IN JUDICIARY ARE NOT INTENDED TO TRUNCATE CASES DUE FOR JUDGMENT

The attention of the Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) has been drawn to a news publication by Herald Newspaper, The Herald Ghana news portal and other media platforms which is misleading and creates the impression of ill motives to the Chief Justice’s exercise of her administrative mandate to transfer Judges.

The said publication under the heading “CHIEF JUSTICE SCATTERS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR’S ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT” “…..With Strange Transfer Of Judge A Year After Kissi Agyebeng Publicly Cried Over Frustration”, indicates that Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, who presided over the criminal trial of Alex Kwabena Safo Kantanka was transferred just when she was due to deliver judgment.’

The Judicial Service of Ghana wishes to provide the correct facts and background as follows:

1. Administratively, transfer of Judges is done annually and or when they are necessitated by the circumstances of Judges or the court they serve in. In every case, Judges on transfer are supposed to deliver judgments in cases they have completed and to complete cases they have heard close to completion.
2. There are standard procedures for transferred Judges to follow, including submission of a Case Completion Plan, to the Office of the Chief Justice, which allows a warrant to be issued to the Judge to deliver outstanding judgments and rulings, and to complete trials that are near completion.
3. Just like other transfers within the Judiciary, Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofo presided over the criminal trial of Alex Kwabena Sarfo Kantanka, has transferred from Kumasi to Accra.
4. The said transfer is part of the 2024 beginning of legal year transfers of more than twenty Judges at all levels of court.
5. The Judge has presented the list of all outstanding judgments and rulings, and has been authorized to deliver ALL OUTSTANDING JUDGMENTS AND RULINGS.
On Friday, November 29, 2024, she presented the required Case Completion Plan, for a warrant to complete cases that are close to completion.
6. The Judicial Service of Ghana hereby reiterates that transfers are not done or intended to truncate cases.

It is hoped that the above stated facts will afford members of the public the correct perspective on the issue of transfers in the Judiciary generally and the said Judge in particular.

The Judicial Service further entreats members of the media to painstakingly cross check their facts and verify information, so as to carry factual and balanced reports to the public.