“It’s a reflection of a judicial weakness that we need to work on it and make sure that we have stronger institutions,” he said in an interview in Paris with France 24 on Tuesday.
He said instead of concentrating on the negative side of the scandal that involves 34 of the country’s judges and more than 180 judicial staff, we should look for ways as a country, to strengthen the judiciary and other state institutions.
“…Rather than concentrate on the negative, let’s see how we can positively strengthen that institution [the judiciary]. And it’s not only the judiciary, the
Executive needs strengthening, the Parliament needs strengthening and the media needs strengthening,” he observed.
The President said his government is committed to ensuring the strengthening of our State institutions, saying ” these are things that will develop over time and I’m committed to doing that.”
President Mahama said the judges who refused bribes and threatened to cause the arrest of the givers are indication that the system is working, and that “it shows that there is healthy fabric that we can grow. it even shows the robustness of our system that we are able to deal with it”.
He said Constitutional procedures are being followed in handling the case, indicating that all those found culpable at the end will be removed from the Bench “and any other criminal proceedings that should be exercised will be done”.
Nurses strike
Commenting on the recent strike by some nurses and midwives in the country, the President attributed the perennial action to what he said is the failure of the human resources systems of the country.
“The issue of the nurses strike is not to do with asking for more money; it is a failure of our human resources system,” he noted, explaining that the Ministry of Health is not able to process the data of new nurses on time for capturing by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.
“So often, [when] the postings are done , the nurses go to post , it takes the Ministry of Health too long to process their data and so they stay without salary for a protracted period and that is what is irking the nurses”
President Mahama said going forward, the government will revise the human resources management information system to ensure that the processes are expedited.
Watch the full interview which also touched on the country’s economy
By: Stephen Kwabena Effah/3news.com
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