Leonardo Santos Simão Commends Judiciary: The United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, has commended Ghana’s judiciary for its professionalism in upholding democratic values but emphasized the need for more effective public communication.

Speaking in an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, Leonardo Santos Simão praised the judiciary as a vital defender of democracy in Ghana, particularly noted for its role in adjudicating electoral disputes. However, he expressed concern that limited communication has sometimes led to public misinterpretation of judicial decisions.

Judiciary as the “Last Line of Defence” for Democracy

Leonardo Santos Simão acknowledged that the Ghanaian judiciary is often regarded as the “last line of defence” for democracy, underscoring its pivotal role in preserving public trust during electoral periods. While he appreciated the judiciary’s commitment to high professional standards, he pointed out that, “High professionalism alone isn’t enough; the quality of communication must also match the stakes involved.”

Initiative to Publish Adjudication Models for Transparency

Simão highlighted a recent commitment by the judiciary to begin publishing adjudication models a move he sees as essential for transparency. By improving access to judicial information, he believes the judiciary can bridge the gap in understanding, especially among different segments of the population. He remarked that “improving the clarity and accessibility of information for different levels of society is crucial,” noting that the judiciary could benefit from providing both technical explanations for professionals and more general explanations for the public.

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Building Public Trust through Transparency

The UN envoy sees these steps toward better communication as essential in building public trust in Ghana’s judicial institutions, particularly during election cycles. “Greater transparency can only strengthen the judiciary’s role in maintaining peace and credibility in the electoral process,” he concluded.

Simão’s remarks underscore a call for Ghana’s judiciary to match its high standards of professionalism with equally strong communication strategies to foster public confidence and understanding in its democratic processes.