During my visit to the Law Court in the centre of Accra, I came across a large noticeboard with the following text:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
- Is it beneficial to all concerned?
These words don't quite build upon our fundamental idea with a civil action that the evidence must be beyond 'the balance of probabilities' let alone achieving our higher criminal standard of deciding the outcome as being 'beyond all reasonable doubt'. Nevertheless there is value in 'is it the truth', creating fairness and working towards a beneficial outcome to all concerned. I'm not sure about the building of goodwill and working towards better friendships as the damage must have been done or the accused would not be in the Judicial system. Although, this point does suggest a society that strives to place its past behind them, while looking to the future.
