I’m not on leave – Chief Justice

• Posted on February 23, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Judicial Service has denied reports in sections of the media that the Chief Justice (CJ), Georgina Theodora Wood, has proceeded on leave prior to her retirement later this year.

According to the Service, the misleading information was fuelled on Tuesday when the CJ was absent at the State of the Nation address delivered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in parliament.

Social media in particular and other platforms were awash with rumours that Justice Wood had taken her terminal leave, hence her absence at the event.

The CJ is going on retirement later in the year, and it was made clear by the Judicial Service that she had not yet taken her terminal leave, accusing the media for the misleading reports.

Grace Tagoe, Judicial Service Director of Communications, in a statement issued in Accra yesterday on behalf of Justice Alex .B. Poku-Acheampong, the Judicial Secretary, vehemently denied the rumour.

She stated, “The Judicial Service would like to place on record that the Chief Justice was absent because she left Ghana on Saturday February 18, 2017 for Egypt to attend a Conference of Chief Justices, Presidents of Supreme Courts, Constitutional Courts and Heads of Judiciaries throughout Africa.”

Ms. Tagoe said the CJ’s absence was duly communicated to the presidency and the speaker of parliament, adding that news of her departure was also broadcast on GBC’s Radio Ghana during the news bulletin at 6pm and 8pm on Saturday, February 18, 2017 and at 6am on Sunday, February 19, 2017.

She indicated that per Article 144 (6) (a) and (b) of the 1992 Constitution, in the absence of the CJ, the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court Bench, performs the functions of the CJ.

The statement expressed disappointment that media houses which published the misleading story could not cross-check their facts with the Service before the publication.

Ms. Tagoe, nonetheless, assured the general public that any news about the retirement of the CJ when it is due will be communicated as such.

Meanwhile, CJ Wood is expected back in Accra today.

-Daily Guide