Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has urged High Court judges to remain firmly grounded in the Rules of Court, particularly in maritime law, cautioning that any lapse in mastery could be exploited by stakeholders.
He delivered the remarks at the opening of a maritime law seminar organised by the Judicial Training Institute for High Court judges, with support from the Ghana Shippers’ Authority. The seminar brought together 48 judges to strengthen capacity in handling admiralty and shipping-related cases amid evolving complexities in the maritime sector.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said judges must be conversant with the rules governing their work, especially within the specialised maritime environment. He noted that where judges are not fully abreast of the rules, lawyers are likely to take advantage of the gap, adding that the maritime field requires a high level of precision and diligence from the Bench.
He described maritime law as a highly specialised area shaped by technical procedures and international dimensions. Although the volume of maritime cases does not warrant the establishment of a fully specialised court, he said it remains essential for judges to be adequately equipped to deal with such matters when they arise. He also expressed gratitude to the Shippers’ Authority for its collaborative support to the Judicial Service over the past decade and a half.
Speaking on behalf of the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Technical Services Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu said the training had come at an opportune time following the recent passage of President John Dramani Mahama’s 24 Hour Economy initiative into law.
According to her, the policy is designed to create an ecosystem in which logistics operate seamlessly and trade activities continue around the clock, adding that the initiative has moved beyond theory into practical implementation. Translating the policy into tangible benefits, she said, will require timely, consistent and well-reasoned judicial decisions that promote predictability in commercial transactions.
Dauda Owu said efficiency must not come at the expense of fairness and that effectiveness must ensure innovation within the commercial space does not outpace compliance with the law. She added that the sector is looking to judges to play their role impartially to meet both domestic and global expectations as Ghana works toward becoming a preferred international trade hub in the sub-region.
I. O. Tanko Amadu, Justice of the Supreme Court and Director of the Judicial Training Institute, encouraged judges to take full advantage of the training to deepen their understanding of maritime law and ensure informed, efficient and consistent adjudication of maritime disputes.
