Private legal practitioner, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has called for quicker and more predictable processes in resolving election disputes to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
Speaking at the golden jubilee symposium of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), he highlighted the decline in public trust in the Electoral Commission, referencing an Afrobarometer survey that shows trust has dropped from 75% in 2005 to just 33% in 2024.
To address these challenges, Lawyer Anyenini advocated for the adoption of dedicated rules for parliamentary election disputes, similar to those in Kenya, which ensure election disputes are resolved within 14 days.
He emphasized that faster resolution of disputes would strengthen the judiciary’s role in ensuring fair and credible elections.
The symposium, themed “Judicial Independence and Integrity; Critical Ingredients for Peaceful Election 2024,” was part of JUSAG’s 50th-anniversary celebrations and served as a platform to reflect on the importance of judicial independence in safeguarding democracy.
Lawyer Anyenini encouraged JUSAG members to maintain high standards of integrity and excellence beyond the 2024 elections.
A key theme of the symposium was the role of digitalization in the judiciary.
Lawyer Anyenini stressed that the judiciary’s vision, LEADing Justice—which stands for Law, Ethics, Assets, Due Process, and Digitalization—would be critical in maintaining the judiciary’s relevance and effectiveness in the digital age.
He noted that digitalization could enhance transparency and accountability, helping to bolster public trust.
Citing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Anyenini underscored the importance of open governance, facilitated by Access to Information laws.
He commended Ghana’s 2019 Right to Information (RTI) law as a significant step toward promoting transparency and empowering citizens with access to information.
The event, themed “50 Years of Championing Judicial Excellence, Embracing Integrity, Digitalization, and Upholding Judicial Independence and Staff Welfare,” was attended by key government officials, legal experts, and JUSAG members.
The discussions reinforced the importance of a strong, transparent, and independent judiciary in maintaining peace and democracy, especially as Ghana prepares for the 2024 elections.
