The President’s nominee for Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has said she is going to build a culture of integrity within the judiciary as a first step to fight corruption.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, which is ongoing at the Parliament House, Justice Wood conceded that fighting corruption is an uphill task but she would make it a priority.

She said: “It is difficult to erase perception of corruption in the judiciary…I will begin by building a culture of integrity. That is bothering and you cannot build it overnight.”

Justice Wood said motivation and better remuneration for staff will be given serious attention. However, she said no institution could thrive especially when it comes to fighting corruption when the leadership is corrupt.

“I will set the example for others to follow. Promotion will be merit-based and a key ingredient will be integrity and competence. Salary structures will have to be improved so people will not be tempted,” she promised.

Justice Wood called on the public to refrain from bribing judges since that serves as a breeding ground to taint the image of the Service.

“Leave our judges alone to work. If you have a case go to the court and get a lawyer…You can’t have 100 per cent perfect people. There could be an element of truth that corruption prevails in the judicial,” she said.

She promised that her administration will demand accountability from the support staff as well as monitor their activities.

She paid tribute to the late Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah for the reforms he brought to the Judicial Service such as the automation process, staff emolument and capacity building. She promised to continue with such goals when given the nod.

President Kufuor, acting in consultation with the Council of State, nominated Mrs Wood on May 4, following the demise of George Kingsley Acquah on March 25.

Justice Francois Yaonansu Kpegah has been acting CJ, in line with Article 144(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that in the event of the Chief Justice's office being declared vacant, the next in order of seniority takes charge until a substantive CJ is appointed.

BIOGRAPHY

Born on June 8, 1947 Mrs Justice Wood attended Bishop’s Girls and Methodist Schools.

She had her LLB (Hons) from the University of Ghana, Legon in 1970 after completing Wesley Girls High School, Cape Coast in 1966. She took a six-month Post-Graduate Officers Training Course at the Ghana Police College.

She joined the Judicial Service as a District Magistrate Grade II and was later promoted to Grade I. She was promoted to the Court of Appeal as a presiding judge in 1991.

Mrs Justice Wood last year chaired the Georgina Wood Committee that conducted an enquiry into the disappearance of 77 packets of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel on April 26, 2006, as well as the 588kg cocaine seized from some Venezuelans at Mempeasem, East Legon.

Mrs Justice Wood was first nominated to the Supreme Court in 2003, at the time of the Fast Track Review Case, alongside the late Justice Afreh – a nomination she initially turned down. She is the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism.

Biography Credit: The Statesman