Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has called on women in law and leadership to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice.
Acknowledging the numerous challenges, including stereotypes and harassment, that women face in the legal profession, she encouraged them to persevere and make the most of their working environments.
Speaking at the convening of the Institute for African Women in Law’s Gender Equality in Law Campaign, she assured her commitment to creating a more conducive environment for women practising law in Ghana.
She emphasised the need for women in leadership to ensure that the workspace is effective and accommodating for both genders, particularly women, by implementing robust measures in the judicial system.
“Anyone can see that I am so intense about ensuring efficiency in justice delivery, so young women take it from me. I have been pregnant and going to court. I have had babies that needed to get to their crèches before going to court, and I’m going to do everything I can to make your work easier.
“It must be recognised that women in law and leadership continue to face unnecessary and daunting challenges on account of our gender, gender bias toxic approaches to competition in the social and workspace often cause women to recoil from striving.”
“Negative comments and stereotypes can take a toll on mental health and self-esteem. Deliberate distortion of altruistic intentions, when a leader proposes a change, can affect the desire to persist in putting out our best. Nevertheless, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to law and justice, undeterred by external pressures.
“The inescapable reality is that the current workplace, particularly in the context of the judiciary, was primarily conceived and constructed without an awareness of the needs of working women.”
“It is therefore incumbent upon women leaders like myself to shape working spaces to better reflect the diverse needs of both genders. Robust strategies must be formulated for resilience that allows the female presence to endure and give of its best to the judicial system and thrive, as well as a legal profession.”
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