Chief Justice applauds Ghana support to Gambia’s judiciary

Chief Justice Jallow, while presiding over the swearing in of Justice Sarah Aryee, warmly welcomed her, saying her services have been generously made available on technical assistance to The Gambia by her home country the Republic of Ghana.

“Her Ladyship is just the latest in a string of distinguished Ghanaian jurists who have served with distinction over several decades at all levels of The Gambia Judiciary – as Chief Justice, Justice of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, High Court and in the Magistracy. We wish to record our great appreciation to the people and Government of Ghana for the support and assistance they have continued to extend to the Judiciary of The Gambia in our times of need.”

“Her Ladyship joins us today in continuation of a distinguished career at the Bar and on the Bench in Ghana with her Ladyship’s last posting there being the Bench of the High Court in Accra following several years of successful private legal practice. She comes to us with an established and renowned reputation as a firm, and diligent Judge, if I may put it that way. Congratulations My Lady on your appointment as a Judge of the High Court of The Gambia. We all wish you a successful tenure of office.”

“My Lady Justice Sarah Aryee you join The Gambia Judiciary at a time of continuing public concern at delays in the hearing and determination of cases,” he informed. “We must all be sensitive to this concern and all of us stakeholders in the administration of justice must respond to this concern with effective measures individually and collectively.”

“It is always said that justice delayed is justice denied; that justice is sweetest when it is freshest. The hearing and determination of one’s case within a reasonable time is a constitutionally guaranteed right. It is not an absolute right but one that is determined by various circumstances. It is a right nonetheless which we must all strive continuously to respect and observe.”

“We are aware that by its nature some delay is inherent in the judicial process. Some delay is unavoidable. The right to a fair hearing for instance requires that each party to a case be given adequate time and opportunity to present their case, if possible by calling  witnesses and to test the case of the other side for instance through examination of their witnesses and evidence.”

“At the end of it all a judicial officer needs time for research, for reflection and analysis of the dossier and then to write a judgement. All this whilst hearing other cases as well. Such a process requires considerable time, effort and energy in order to do the right thing. It is a very difficult and time consuming task.”

“We must all nonetheless, notwithstanding the challenges, Judges, Magistrates, Cadis, Lawyers, Prosecutors and even litigants and witnesses, enhance our diligence in the execution of our respective mandates in the judicial process in order to expedite cases and give real meaning to our mission statement and commitment to deliver quality justice expeditiously. We can do so with regard to delays that are not inherent in the process and delays that are avoidable in order to minimise or eliminate such avoidable delays. We call on particularly the Bar – both the public and the private to live up to their roles as Ministers in this temple of justice and to join the Bench in making the delivery of justice an expeditious rather than a never ending and frustrating process.”