The Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) has clarified that judicial transfers, including the recent reassignment of Justice Priscilla Dikro Ofori, are routine administrative actions and not intended to disrupt ongoing cases.
This statement comes in response to media reports suggesting that the transfer was aimed at hindering the Special Prosecutor’s trial of Alex Kwabena Safo Kantanka.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 3, the JSG explained that such transfers are part of an annual process or occur as circumstances require. The service emphasized that judges undergoing transfers are expected to finalize judgments in completed cases and complete trials that are near resolution.
The JSG also outlined the standard protocols for transferred judges, who must submit a Case Completion Plan to the Chief Justice’s office. This process ensures the issuance of warrants that enable judges to deliver pending judgments and rulings.
Justice Ofori, who has been reassigned from Kumasi to Accra as part of the 2024 legal year transfers, has followed these procedures. She submitted her Case Completion Plan on November 29, 2024, and has been authorized to conclude cases nearing completion.
The JSG stressed that Justice Ofori’s transfer is one of many involving over 20 judges across various court levels and is not connected to any alleged interference in the judicial process. It urged the public to understand the operational framework governing judicial transfers.
Furthermore, the JSG called on the media to prioritize factual and balanced reporting, urging outlets to verify claims before publication to avoid misleading the public.
