Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia highlighted the significant cost savings brought about by digitalization in Ghana.
He cited examples such as the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), which saved GHC480 million by removing 29,000 ghost pensioners, and the National Service Secretariat, which eliminated 44,000 ghost workers, resulting in savings of over GHC356 million.
Speaking at the launch of LEADing Justice in Accra, a strategic framework document outlining the Chief Justice’s vision for the Judiciary and Judicial Service of Ghana, Vice President Bawumia expressed his satisfaction that digitization was a central element of the Chief Justice’s vision.
He commended Ghana for its rapid progress in digitization and praised the Chief Justice for bringing renewed focus, dynamism, and energy to the Judiciary since assuming office the previous year.
“It is my hope that today’s event will herald a new dawn in the history of our judicial system propelled by efficiency, excellence, knowledge, and integrity.”
For instance, he noted that from independence until 2017, only four percent of the adult population possessed Tax Identification Numbers, as seen in the case of 2014.
“When we digitalized and gave everyone a Ghana Card and made the decision to make the Ghana Card Tax Identification number, we increased the proportion of individuals with Tax ID, the number moved from four per cent to 85 per cent just like that.
“We have also seen through digitalization that you can deal with corruption. We have eliminated ghost workers at the Controller and Accountant General Office just by using the Ghana Cards because the ghosts don’t have fingerprints.”
He emphasized that the judiciary’s reputation relies on key principles such as law, ethics, asset management, due process, and digitization, all of which represent significant advancements in the judicial system.
Having spearheaded the introduction of a case tracking system within the criminal justice sector in 2018, the Vice President expressed his satisfaction with the transformative impact of the e-system on the administration of justice.
He urged all Ghanaians to rally behind the Chief Justice’s vision, enabling the judiciary to fulfill its objectives, mandates, and targets for the betterment of the nation.
“As a government, we shall continue to do more for the Judicial Service to ramp up the other parts of the E-Justice system of the court and beyond the High Courts in Accra.
“We shall continue to invest in court infrastructure, residential accommodation for judges and magistrates and general re-tooling of the human resources of the institution to improve justice delivery. It is in our interest as a country to do so.”
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, characterized the launch as groundbreaking, as it marked the Chief Justice’s inaugural presentation of her vision for justice delivery in Ghana.
He emphasized that this event provided an unprecedented opportunity for ordinary citizens, from whom justice emanates, to gauge the Chief Justice’s performance fairly and accurately.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, characterized the launch as groundbreaking, as it marked the Chief Justice’s inaugural presentation of her vision for justice delivery in Ghana.
He emphasized that this event provided an unprecedented opportunity for ordinary citizens, from whom justice emanates, to gauge the Chief Justice’s performance fairly and accurately.
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), expressed full confidence in the Chief Justice’s ability to provide genuine leadership to the Judiciary.
He expressed optimism that the Chief Justice’s vision would not only be transformative but also inclusive, reaching out to all sectors of society.