Acting CJ warns judges against painkiller misuse
Speaking at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in Accra, he revealed that many judicial officers rely heavily on over-the-counter drugs like diclofenac and ibuprofen to cope with workload pressures.
Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has raised alarm over what he described as the growing misuse of painkillers among judges and magistrates, cautioning that the trend poses grave health risks.
Speaking at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in Accra, he revealed that many judicial officers rely heavily on over-the-counter drugs like diclofenac and ibuprofen to cope with workload pressures.
Call for Integrity in Justice
Beyond health concerns, the Acting CJ urged the bench to remain uncompromising in handling cases tied to illegal mining, drug trafficking, and environmental degradation. He emphasized that justice must be applied “without fear or favour,” regardless of political or social status.
He also announced that specialized courts—first introduced under former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood—will be revived and expanded to fast-track such sensitive cases.
“Consistency in sentencing is key. We must correct the perception that punishments for environmental and drug crimes are lenient or inconsistent,” he stressed.
JUSAG Pushes Digital Transformation
On his part, Samuel Afotey Otu, National President of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), made a strong case for the digitisation of court processes.
He painted a picture of a future where litigants in remote villages can file cases online, lawyers receive instant judgment notifications, and citizens access court schedules at a click.
Mr. Otu further appealed for:
Vehicles for lower bench judges to improve mobility,
Increased retention of judiciary’s IGF, from the current 30% to 70%, and
Capacity building for court staff to adapt to digital tools.
Conference Focus
The 44th AMJG Conference, themed “Leveraging Technology to Enhance Justice Delivery”, gathered judges, magistrates, judicial staff, and legal practitioners to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening public trust in Ghana’s justice system.
