By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has charged judicial actors across Africa, main judges, and justices to administer justice fairly by upholding the rule of law.
Speaking at the ongoing African Regional Group Meeting and International Conference of the International Association of Judges held under the Theme“The Judiciary in Contemporary Times: Dispensing Justice in the New Information Age”, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, the Liberian Vice President encouraged the legal practitioners to remain legally accountable to the government and the people thereof.
“The Judiciary, which is responsible for dispensing justice, remains consequential to the accountability of a government to its people. You, Judges who are tasked with the responsibility of dispensing justice, must strive to ensure that justice is administered fairly, upholding the rule of law.”
He intimated that the new dispensation places a greater onus on the judicial systems across Africa, as the continent strives to build institutions that promote equity, and adequate opportunity, and uplift our nearly 1.5 billion people on the African Continent out of poverty.
The Vice President further asserted that to maintain a government that works in the interests of its people, the government must be accountable to said people.
“This new dispensation places a greater onus on our judicial systems
across Africa, as we strive to build institutions that promote equity, and adequate opportunity, and uplift our nearly 1.5 billion people on the African Continent out of poverty, It is important to note, that to maintain a government that works in the interests of its people, that government must be accountable to said people.”
Vice President Koung provided that the execution of the principles that underpin the rule of law must ensure access to an independent judiciary that
guarantees the protection of the rights of all under the law.
He further asserted that where the rule of law is not upheld, it breeds discontent which in turn may lead to disruption and instability. It follows, that your role, as Judge, remains critical to the functioning of a society, particularly in this new information age.
Meanwhile, the Vice President revealed that Liberia, under the Leadership of His Excellency President Joseph Nyema Boakai has declared the implementation of the Rule of Law as
one of its pillars for governance, as enshrined in the ARREST Agenda.
He vowed that the Government under the leadership of President Boakai will continue to support the Liberian Judiciary to safeguard the adherence to the rule of law and the equitable
dispensation of justice.
“Liberia, under the Leadership of His Excellency President Joseph
Nyema Boakai has declared the implementation of the Rule of Law as
one of its pillars for governance, as enshrined in the ARREST Agenda”. Our Government will continue to support the Liberian
Judiciary to safeguard the adherence to the rule of law and the equitable
dispensation of justice.”
The International Association of Judges was founded in Salzburg (Austria) in 1953. It is a professional, non-political, international organization, bringing together national associations of judges, not individual judges, approved by the Central Council for admission to the Association.
The main aim of the Association is to safeguard the independence of the judiciary, which is an essential requirement of the judicial function, guaranteeing human rights and freedom.
The organization currently encompasses 92 such national associations or representative groups, from five continents.
The Central Council of the IAJ is its executive body. Each member association has two representatives in the Council. The Central Council meets annually, preferably in a different country every year.
