The two-day conference, held under the theme, “Balance Beyond the Bench – Harmonising Duty, Justice and Life”, was chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, His Lordship Justice Philip Bright Mensah.

According to the President of the AMJG, Her Ladyship Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu (JA), the chosen theme provided an avenue for members of the Bench to dialogue and reflect on the need to prioritize their wellbeing, as the human capital behind justice delivery in the country.

 
                                                                                        Her Ladyship Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu (JA) President of the AMJG, 

She noted in her remarks that the theme spoke directly to the challenges Judges and Magistrates faced in striving to balance the demands of their professional work life with their personal lives.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, urged the Bench to prioritize their wellbeing, whiles remaining committed to their judicial responsibilities.

“There is an old wisdom in the idea that one cannot pour from an empty vessel. The Judiciary requires Judges who are intellectually alive, emotionally grounded and physically capable of meeting the demands of the office. We must therefore create a judicial culture in which excellence is expected, but humanity is not regarded as weakness”

Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie however cautioned, that the pursuit of work-life balance should not become an excuse for indifference to duty, stressing, that citizens experience the Judiciary not as an abstract institution, but through “a particular judge, magistrate, courtroom and decision”.

                                                                                                              His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Chief Justice


“And so, while we must care for the people who administer justice, we must never forget the people for whom justice is administered. The two obligations are not enemies. Indeed, they reinforce each other”, he noted.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, commended the Association for choosing what he described as a “timely and deeply human” theme.

He noted that discussions on the Judiciary often focused on issues such as the independence of Judges, the integrity of the courts, the quality of judgments and the efficiency of justice delivery, with comparatively little or no attention paid to the “human beings upon whom all these expectations rest”.  

He thus stressed the need for the pursuit of justice to coexist with a meaningful life beyond the Bench.

                                                                                                                               Mrs. Efua Ghartey, GBA President

For her part, the National President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mrs. Efua Ghartey, called for greater introspection within the legal profession, and encouraged open and honest communication between the Bench and the Bar. She also pledged the continued support of the Ghana Bar Association for the Judiciary.

Taking his turn, the National President of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Mr. Samuel Afotey Otu, added his voice to calls for a healthier work-life balance within the Judiciary.

 
                                                                                                                         Mr. Samuel Afotey, JUSAG President

“May we never forget that behind every robe, every position and every professional responsibility is a human being who deserves a life of balance, dignity and fulfillment”, he said.   Some retired Judges and Magistrates received awards, in recognition of their professionalism, dedication and contributions during their years of active service.