Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has called for the retooling of the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) to expand its coverage.
Justice Torkornoo raised concerns about the limited access to legal aid and the poor services of LAC due to a lack of resources.
“The Legal Aid Commission must be resourced to decentralized and that will help improve their services. Sometimes many people are unable to access legal aid because of the qualification this must be looked at,” she said.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo said this when she faced the appointment committee of Parliament during her vetting to occupy the highest position of the Judiciary as Chief Justice.
Responding to questions on her dedication to legal aid, Justice Torkornoo indicated her resolve to ensure that the vulnerable in society would benefit from the aid.
“We need to lock hands as a nation. We need resources; we need the education to sensitize vulnerable persons who might be disqualified because of their inability to understand the criteria to qualify for legal aid. During my tenure, I will not allow it to be swept under the carpet.
The Supreme Court judge vowed to remove heckles that would impede the smooth administration of legal aid when she gets the endorsement to become the Chief Justice.
According to her, making the Legal Aid Commission attractive would involve equipping it to provide effective services to the public.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo succeeds Justice Anin Yeboah as Chief Justice when she is approved.
